The book “Long Bien Bridge - the legendary bridge” was published by Fine Arts Publishing House. The book selects many articles by domestic and foreign experts about Long Bien Bridge, including poetry and paintings by many authors and artists. Through articles such as: “Long Bien Bridge - the bridge connecting Vietnam with France” (Nguyen Dy Nien), “Hanoi and the Dragon Bridge - Long Bien Bridge” (Daniel Biau), “Long Bien Bridge and the role of Paul Doumer” (Phan Trang), “The bridge was born from a crazy idea!” (Do Hoang Anh), “The strip of lace stretched across the sky” (Duong Trung Quoc), “The project to renovate Long Bien Bridge and its vicinity” (Nguyen Nga), “Restoring Long Bien Bridge - Urban and landscape approach” (Eiffage - Atelier Villes & Paysages - Egis)…, readers can discover more interesting stories and information about the steel bridge across the Red River that has accompanied Hanoi's history for over 120 years and is now one of the symbols of the city for peace , also a bridge connecting three centuries, connecting the past, present and future.
Taking on the role of chief editor of the book, Architect Nguyen Nga shared that, for her, “Long Bien Bridge - the legendary bridge” is like a diary recording the 17-year journey of pursuing the project of preserving, restoring and developing Long Bien Bridge. That journey is filled with nostalgia and love for the bridge, a “historical witness” of “a time of bombs and bullets, a time of peace”.
In the book's introduction, Architect Nguyen Nga recounted: In 1989, flying from Paris to Hanoi after 35 years of separation, she borrowed a bicycle to ride from the Opera House through the Old Quarter to Long Bien Bridge. “To me, the bridge is a winding dragon over Thang Long city. The bridge is too old, full of scars from bombing raids. Half of the bridge has lost its span, remaining like a piece of bone, looking heartbreaking. A train rumbled towards it. The whole bridge suddenly shook. I felt like I was standing on the back of a waking dragon. With so many emotions surging, I promised myself I would do something for this legendary bridge.”
On the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi and the 10th anniversary of Hanoi being honored by UNESCO as a City for Peace, with the support of the Hanoi People's Committee, Architect Nguyen Nga called on the domestic and international art community, along with 70 embassies in Hanoi and the media to support the organization of two festivals to "save" Long Bien Bridge, namely "Memories of Long Bien Bridge" in 2009 and "Dragon Bridge tells a thousand-year story" in 2010, contributing to making Long Bien Bridge a symbol of Hanoi, a symbol of the city for peace.
According to the Director of the State Records and Archives Department Dang Thanh Tung, Long Bien Bridge is called a legendary bridge because it has witnessed legendary people creating legendary historical events, affirming the strength of the Vietnamese people through resistance wars to gain independence...
Speaking more about this, historical researcher Duong Trung Quoc, General Secretary of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, said: The steel bridge spanning three centuries has not only witnessed but also experienced all the ups and downs of Hanoi: historical floods, political events, troops from the war zone advancing during the August Revolution in 1945, our army taking over and the last French colonial soldiers crossing Long Bien bridge to withdraw from the North after the Geneva Agreement in 1954, fierce bombings by the US air force, the peak of which was in 1967..., but to this day the bridge still stands tall.
Writing a few words for the book by many authors, edited and published at the time when the steel bridge across the Red River has passed the 120-year milestone through three centuries of challenges of time, natural disasters and enemies... we feel more and more the indispensable shadow of Long Bien Bridge reflecting on the Red River, not only in memory, not only as a heritage but also as the creativity of those who love Hanoi, who have never stopped thinking about the idea of making the bridge exist and live forever with the Capital as a cultural work.
As a meaningful publication published on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Capital Liberation Day, “Long Bien Bridge - the legendary bridge” also conveys profound humanistic values when the proceeds from the book sales will be transferred by the organizing committee to the Charity Bridge Building Fund to support people in flooded areas after storm No. 3.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/phac-hoa-chan-dung-nhan-chung-lich-su-cau-long-bien-post835596.html
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