In recent years, preserving the iconic Long Bien Bridge has attracted public concern in Hanoi. With a determination to maintain heritage, Vietnamese architects have worked hard to preserve the bridge for the next generation.

A project that would transform Long Bien Bridge into a cultural art space of Vietnamese-French architect Nguyen Nga has received public attention. The project will be carried out under the private-public partnership model, with total investment of 215 million USD. The project has received warm response from many other architects and authorised bodies as the bridge will become a historical tourism site, attracting both home and foreign visitors. However, there will be difficulties in implementing the project. Long Bien Bridge has witnessed the ups and downs and historical moments of the capital city. Therefore, transforming the bridge into a museum is architects’ aspiration. After a century to serve its transportation function, the bridge has been seriously degraded and needs preservation. The bridge deserves to become a living museum and a tourism-cultural highlight of Hanoi.-VNA