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??902).

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