Da Nang’s landmark project ‘The River of Light’ has been launched to give new coat to the iconic Han River. The project will promise a new look when the artistic lighting system on bridges spanning the river and the two banks of the river and the water landscape are completely beautified.

The water surface of the Han River along with the bridges and river banks will become a great stage for light art at night, becoming an interesting highlight to attract both local dwellers and tourists.

The water surface of the Han River, bridges and river banks will become a great stage for light art at night. Photo: KIM LIEN

Artistic lighting

The Han River is like a soft silk strip, calmly flowing to the ocean amid the changes of the times, and is considered the "heart" that keeps Da Nang always peaceful and poetic amid the breath of ceaseless development. Along with the Han River, the bridges and architectural works with symbolic value on the river banks are closely tied to the endless flow of history and Da Nang's desire to grow.

There are 7 bridges spanning the Han River to break the barrier separating the two banks, creating favourable conditions for trade and travel between the central districts of the city. Therefore, for the Da Nang dwellers, beautifying the Han River is an obvious thing to do because nature and creation have given the Han River as a precious gift so that the city has developed and innovated, create balance and harmony towards sustainable development.

With the project ‘the River of Light’, the city aims to complete Phase 1 in the first quarter of 2024. The about VND 400 billion project will give the Han River a new look when the artistic lighting system on the bridges spanning the Han River and the two river banks, and the water surface will be restored.

Comprehensively changed and upgraded, the Han River’s water surface, bridges and river banks will become a great stage for light art at night, becoming an interesting highlight to attract local residents and tourists.

As reported by the Da Nang Department of Construction, ‘The River of Light’ art lighting project, along with the riverside landscape combined with festivals, cultural and entertainment activities, will enhance the value of the Han River landscape, creating new tourism product, an attractive nightlife entertainment venue for residents and tourists.

‘The River of Light’ project includes 5 component projects: investment in the artistic lighting system of Nguyen Van Troi pedestrian bridge; upgrading the Han River bridge lighting system; upgrading the lighting of bridges Thuan Phuoc, ‘Rong’ (Dragon) and Tran Thi Ly, lighting the landscape along the banks of the Han River; lighting park areas and green landscapes.

Among them, the focal point of spreading the long axis of artistic light along the entire Han River route is Nguyen Van Troi Bridge. Through this, Da Nang is beautified at night, creating excitement and attraction for tourists and enhancing spiritual values for local residents, contributing to promoting the city’s tourism economy, especially enhancing the overall landscape value of the Han River, creating a symbol for the city.

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High-rise buildings on both sides of the Han River will also be artistically lit. High-rise buildings rising on both sides of the Han River in the future will be required to invest in additional artistic lighting items according to the city's management regulations on colour and urban lighting, especially in terms of lighting at night.

The city’s authorities have directed investment phasing and project implementation as soon as possible. The artistic lighting for Nguyen Van Troi Bridge will be done by a famous lighting unit in the world.

For many Da Nang people, the Han River is their hometown river, so every change related to this river is always of great interest and attention to them. Mr. Do Quy Su, a retired officer, expressed his joy when the Han River was once again renewed. At the same time, Mr. Su also expressed his hope that the new product, specifically ‘The River of Light’ project, will fundamentally change the appearance of the river, to highlight this subject in the urban space of the city.

Currently, the central area where the Han River passes through (the section from the foot of Thuan Phuoc Bridge to the Asia Park) does not really have outstanding highlights, so the Han River is beautified to become sparkling and bright when the night falls is also a long-standing wish of the city's inhabitants and tourists.

As one of the people who is enthusiastic and has many solutions to beautify bridges and architectural works in Da Nang, inventor Phan Dinh Phuong, Chairman and General Director of An Sinh Green Science and Technology Joint Stock Company has sent to the city’s administration a project to turn the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge into a bridge serving tourism with 13 cafes installed in the image of pink lotus buds, with decorative lighting systems, contributing creating highlights and poetic features for the the Han River.

“The Han River has a very special meaning for the people of Da Nang as well as the city's development history. Beautifying the Han River not only creates landscape beauty but also makes the bridges spanning the Han River more lively and soulful. Surely, with the ‘The River of Light’ project, Da Nang will be more attractive and unforgettable, and the Han River will attract tourists to stay and enjoy the beauty of the bridges - a highlight in the overall architecture of the city.”, said Mr. Phan Dinh Phuong.

Reporting by KHANH HOA - Translating by A.THU