The Japanese Bridge in Hoi An reopens to visitors after 19 months of restoration.

After completing a 19-month restoration project, the Japanese Bridge in Hoi An ancient town, Quang Nam province, has reopened to visitors.

On the afternoon of August 3rd, at the Japanese Bridge historical site, the People's Committee of Hoi An City, Quang Nam province, held a ceremony to inaugurate the restoration project.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Chairman of the Hoi An City People's Committee Nguyen Van Son said that this was the first time a monument restoration project had been "openly dissected," carried out in the heart of a bustling heritage and tourism city. Locals and tourists were able to observe, access, and follow the entire restoration process of the Japanese Bridge.

The Bridge Pagoda has been restored and is now open to visitors.

"With meticulous surveys of the current state, careful consideration of perspectives and restoration solutions, along with the dedication of the team directly involved in the project and the contributions of conservation experts both domestically and internationally, especially experts from Japan, the restoration project of the Bridge Pagoda has been completed in a systematic and scientific manner."

The completion of the restoration of the Japanese Bridge also holds great significance on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Hoi An - Japan Cultural Exchange event. Mr. Son said.

According to VTC News reporters, during the afternoon of the inauguration ceremony, a large number of locals and tourists gathered near the Bridge Pagoda to admire the restored monument.

Although the monument, considered a symbol of Hoi An ancient town for four centuries, has been successfully restored and its structure ensured, the pollution problem in the area around the Japanese Bridge still frustrates many people.

The murky, foul-smelling water near the Bridge Pagoda is a source of disgust for many locals and tourists.

Mr. TTN (a tourist from Tam Ky City, Quang Nam province) shared: "Through various information channels, I learned that Hoi An City would be holding an inauguration ceremony for the renovated Japanese Bridge this afternoon, so my friend and I traveled 50 kilometers here at noon to see the renovated Japanese Bridge firsthand. However, I was bothered by the strong, foul odor emanating from the stream at the foot of the Japanese Bridge, and the water below was pitch black."

The project to restore the Lai Vien Bridge (Chua Cau) has a total approved budget of 20.2 billion VND, of which the provincial budget contributes 50% and the Hoi An City budget allocates 50%.
From July 25th, the construction unit dismantled the entire protective structure made of iron frames and corrugated iron roofs, allowing locals and tourists to easily admire the entire Bridge Pagoda relic after 1.5 years of restoration.
The new look of the Japanese Bridge after its major renovation has received mixed reactions from the public. Many people believe that the renovation, especially the paint color, has diminished the ancient beauty of the structure, which is considered a symbol of the ancient town of Hoi An, making the monument look unfamiliar compared to before.

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