The Long Bien Bridge was erected by the French colonialists between 1899 and 1902 and named the Paul Doumer Bridge in honour of the then Governor of French Indochina (1897-1902).

It was designed and built by Dayde and Pille of Paris (the original plaques are still in place) and is 1;682 metres (5;518 ft) long; comprising 18 spans; with an additional lengthened central span of 106 metres (347 ft). It carries the only railway line between Hanoi and Haiphong; as well as two vital rail links with China; until the construction of the new Chuong Duong Bridge in 1985; it also carried the only road traffic across the Red River at Hanoi.

The Long Bien Bridge became a major target - perhaps the major target - of the United States Air Force during the Second Indochina War. At the height of the US bombing offensive it was defended by more than 150 Soviet-supplied SAM missiles; as well as massed batteries of anti-aircraft guns.

Although hit on numerous occasions; Vietnamese sapper teams working 24 hours a day generally managed to repair the bridge and restore communications within a remarkably short period of time. Pictures From History