Most recently, the Da Nang authorities have given a green light to pilot night-time tourism on the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge and at a public park at the eastern bank of the foot of the bridge, as well as develop more new and unique nighttime tourism products, promising to bring a breath of fresh air to locals and visitors to the city.

The Nguyen Van Troi Bridge seen from above. Photo: THU HA

The pilot plan will be deployed on the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge located in Son Tra and Hai Chau districts; at a public park at the eastern bank of the foot of the bridge located on Chuong Duong Street, My An Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District; and on Tran Hung Dao Street, An Hai Tay Ward, Son Tra District. The pilot programme will start in the first quarter of 2024 and end in late 2028.

The first stage of the pilot programme in 2024 will concentrate on cleaning up weeds and garbage along the bank of the Han River adjacent to the park on the eastern bank of the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge; planting new trees and replacing some dead and broken ones on the east bank of the bridge; embellishing degraded embankments and flower beds; installing railings along the riverbank to ensure safety for residents and tourists; and adding lighting systems.

Great efforts will be made to create an impressive check-in point with 2 flower-decorated models north and south of the public park at the eastern end of the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge; as well as call on individuals and units to place antique motorbikes and three-wheeled vehicles used as check-in photo spots on the bridge.

Also, there will be photo exhibitions, and displays of specialised products quarterly or on public and Tet holidays depending on the actual situation in one of three areas on Nguyen Van Troi Bridge, and the north yard or the south yard of the public park on the eastern bank of the bridge.

Notably, visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in vibrant music and entertainment atmosphere at street music programmes on the evening of Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays; and street carnival on Tran Hung Dao and Chuong Duong streets on the last Saturday night of every month.

There will be flashmob events, yoga festivals and street art programmes on the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge; book reading and beer festivals at the public park; and stalls selling fast food, beverages and souvenirs.

Meanwhile, the second stage of the pilot project will take place during the 2024-2025 period.

During the period, the relevant units will continue to carry out the remaining items of the first stage, along with will renovate, upgrade and exploit tourism activities on the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge and a part at the eastern end of the bridge.

Additionally, importance will be attached to upgrading approach roads to the bridge; beautifying the public park at the eastern end of the bridge; embellishing and cleaning up the water surface and banks of the Han River; organising performances of street art activities; and arranging food and souvenir booths to serve residents and tourists.

Thanks to its unique architecture, the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge is very suitable for tourists and people to go for a stroll and enjoy the beauty of the city at night. Photo: THU HA

It is known that the bridge was built in the 1960s by the Americans for the transportation of war weapons from Tien Sa port to the inner- city.

Nguyen Van Troi is one of the rare bridges in Viet Nam having arch structure made of Poni steel frame. In reality, this uniquely-designed bridge consists of 14 steel truss Poni spans of over 500m in total, with the width of 10.5m and no margin for pedestrians.

After the national reunification in 1975, the bridge was named after Nguyen Van Troi, one of Viet Nam’s immortal heroes whose legacies have stilled shined over the historical periods.

In 1978, the bridge’s timber deck was removed and replaced by reinforced concrete, and then, in 1996, the deck was replaced again with steel panels for weight reduction due to its weak foundation.

The bridge serves as a testament to history witnessing the development of Da Nang through periods. Currently, it is retained by the city as a pedestrian bridge in service of tourism.

The city's pilot plan to exploit tourism services on the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge and its surrounding areas expects to create a special impression on tourists.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Hung, a resident of An Hai Tay Ward, said that the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge has a very beautiful space to organise cultural and entertainment events.

Like other bridges in the city, the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge has both historical elements and high aesthetics. The organisation of cultural and entertainment events here will create a vibrant space, attracting visitors to visit and take photos.

In the long term, the bridge will also become a symbol of the local tourism like the Han River Bridge or the Dragon Bridge.

Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association Cao Tri Dung stressed the need for the city to get more opinions from domestic and foreign experts or refer to international models to find unique ideas and products suitable for the space and architecture of the bridge, thereby truly attracting customers in a sustainable way.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by M.DUNG