Truong Tien Bridge is a symbol of the Perfume River (Huong River) and the dreamy land of Hue. This bridge has witnessed historic battles, the falling of bombs, and the flames of war, yet it still stands tall today. Follow HueTransferService.com to discover the attractions that await visitors here.
A Brief Introduction to Truong Tien Bridge
Where is Truong Tien Bridge?
Truong Tien Bridge is located in the southern part of Hue city, in the wards of Phu Loi and Phu Hoa. The bridge spans the Perfume River and is a symbol of the dreamy land of Hue.
When you visit Hue, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the peaceful Perfume River and walk on this historic hundred-year-old bridge. You can ask for directions to the Perfume River or look up Truong Tien Bridge’s location on Google Maps.
How to Get to Truong Tien Bridge
To reach Truong Tien Bridge, visitors can use various modes of transportation such as private car services in Hue, motorbikes, cars, bicycles, or even travel by river. When visiting Hue, it is advisable to stay at hotels near the city center, making it more convenient and time-saving to reach famous landmarks. Truong Tien Bridge is located in the city center, so it is quite easy to get there. However, many bridges have been built over the Perfume River, so be careful not to get confused.
If you are a lover of romance, you can rent a bicycle to ride around the Perfume River and Truong Tien Bridge, watching the bustling crowds pass by. The peaceful scenery, cool air, and gentle river breezes will surely provide unforgettable experiences. On the Perfume River, there are boats that take visitors to explore Hue and the river that has been immortalized in poetry and music. You can buy tickets to experience drifting on the water and view the city from a fresh perspective.
Ideal Time to Check-in at Truong Tien Bridge
The best time to visit Truong Tien Bridge in Hue is typically from May to September each year. During this period, the weather in Hue is very pleasant with plenty of sunshine and little rain, perfect for tourists to explore and admire the scenery.
If you have the time, you should also visit Truong Tien Bridge at night to enjoy its dazzling and mystical beauty. As night falls, the bridge lights up brilliantly with colors like yellow, green, purple, red… You will surely be amazed by this spectacular light display.
History of Truong Tien Bridge
Truong Tien Bridge has been associated with the dreamy land of Hue for over a century. Despite the changes over the hundreds of years, the bridge remains, witnessing all the transformations of the era. Constructed at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was the first bridge built in Indochina. With the support of Western technology and materials, Truong Tien Bridge was built with a steel structure, making it incredibly sturdy and far superior to the bamboo and wooden bridges of the time.
The bridge has undergone several name changes, including Thanh Thai, Clémenceau, and Nguyen Hoang. However, because it was once located opposite the left bank of the Nguyen Dynasty’s mint, the people of Hue became accustomed to calling it Truong Tien Bridge. Gradually, this name stuck and became the official name of the bridge.
During the preparations for the construction of Truong Tien Bridge, King Thanh Thai faced a lot of opposition. Some officials at the time argued that the Perfume River’s dreamy beauty was not suitable for a bridge made of rough steel, fearing it would lose the river’s charming and romantic appeal. Moreover, relying on Western technology was also a contentious issue.
After much debate, the decision to build the bridge over the Perfume River was officially made in April 1897. The construction was entrusted to the French Eiffel company, with the court providing 190,000 dong, and the remainder being assisted by the French. During the construction, the first stone was laid by King Thanh Thai himself, and the bridge was completed two years later.
Truong Tien Bridge consists of six spans and twelve arches forming six pairs, as described in the familiar song “Truong Tien Bridge, six spans and twelve arches…” known to many generations of Hue people. The bridge is 400 meters long, and including the approach roads, it measures 453 meters. The bridge’s width is 6 meters, later reconstructed to include walkways for pedestrians.
Since its construction, Truong Tien Bridge has collapsed three times. The first collapse occurred in 1904 due to a historic storm. The second collapse was in 1946, when the bridge was deliberately destroyed with explosives to block the French army’s path during the resistance. The third collapse happened in 1968 when a ton of bombs dropped by the American forces destroyed the third pillar and severely damaged the fourth pillar.
The bridge has since undergone major renovations, regaining its sturdiness and blending its dreamy beauty with the graceful Perfume River. For over 50 years now, Truong Tien Bridge has stood firm, ensuring safe passage for all vehicles. Since 1975, the name Truong Tien has become the official name, recognized in all administrative and geographical documents.
The Beauty of Truong Tien Bridge
It is not by chance that Truong Tien Bridge has become a symbol of Hue city. Along with its long history tied to this land, the bridge also carries unique and impressive beauty and charm.
The Peaceful Beauty Steeped in Time
For more than 100 years associated with Hue, witnessing many changes, Truong Tien Bridge has donned the beauty of the ages. This place has become an inspiration for countless poetic works, evoking deep nostalgia in many people. Have you ever read the poem “Truong Tien Bridge” by Hanh Nguyen with its smooth verses:
You returned to pick up fallen petals,
Gathering love to ease the longing
The Perfume River flows gently,
Truong Tien dreamily lulls the lullaby
Or the song that has become embedded in the memories of Hue’s people:
Truong Tien Bridge with six spans and twelve arches,
I couldn’t keep up with you, how unfortunate it is!
For so long I’ve been blamed,
If you leave me, it’s Heaven’s fault
The romantic, gentle essence of the Perfume River with the highlight of the hundred-year-old Truong Tien Bridge is a symbol, a history, a breath of Hue, and a memory that visitors cannot forget.
Truong Tien Bridge – Beauty that has Become a Soul
With its age and cultural value, Truong Tien Bridge has long ceased to be just an inanimate steel bridge. Strangely enough, people realize that the bridge has increasingly taken on a graceful, gentle beauty, akin to Hue and its people. It seems that time has allowed the bridge to blend perfectly with the dreamy Hue, becoming the soul of the ancient capital.
Visiting Truong Tien Bridge during the season when flamboyant flowers bloom brilliantly on both banks of the Perfume River, you will find the place exuding a bright, vibrant aura yet still graceful and gentle. And then you suddenly realize that everything in Hue seems to slow down, becoming more poetic, including its people.
HueTransferService.com hopes you will soon have the opportunity to set foot in the dreamy land of Hue, visit the Truong Tien Bridge with its six spans and twelve arches of nostalgia, and share your own experiences with us. Wishing you a smooth trip, immersing yourself in the peaceful atmosphere and enjoying the most wonderful vacation.
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