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The Vietnam News

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Vietnam asks for loan to upgrade Long Bien bridge

Vietnam plans to ask the French Government for a 12 million Euro loan for the first phase of the restoration of the Long Bien bridge, spanning the Red River, the Ministry of Transport said on Saturday.

Experts have recommended maintaining the original design of the more than 100-year-old bridge, which has two lanes for buses and a lane for pedestrians and bicycles. The Long Bien bridge is one of the first metal bridges built in Southeast Asia. The construction of the bridge more than 100 years ago by French colonialists marked an important expansion of Hanoi capital to the north. The bridge witnessed the withdrawal of the French troops and survived numerous air raids in the destructive war by the US.

Meanwhile, the new Long Bien bridge for an elevated railway will be built about 50m from the old one. The construction is expected to start in 2007 and to be completed in 30 months.

Voice Of Vietnam - September 27, 2004