Historic Hien Luong Bridge in central Vietnam undergoes major restoration

Project representatives announced the above information on Tuesday.

Ngo Van Minh, deputy head of the Hien Luong-Ben Hai Special National Relic Management Board, said that only the site’s exhibition house remains open to visitors while work continues on the bridge and surrounding structures.

Located in Quang Tri Province, the bridge sits on the 17th parallel and spans the Ben Hai River, which served as the border between North and South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975.

In 1967, American bombs destroyed the bridge.

The current Hien Luong Bridge was rebuilt after Vietnam was reunified in 1975.

Today, the site is a prominent symbol of national reunification.

Years of exposure to harsh weather have left the structure heavily damaged.

Nguyen Ngoc Vung, chief contractor on the project, said the bridge’s entire wooden deck and steel framework are being dismantled for detailed assessment. 

Each component will be evaluated by a committee, and any structurally sound wood or steel will be reused to preserve the original features.

The restored bridge will include 894 planks of Lao lim wood — 444 on the southern side and 450 on the north— in keeping with its historic design. 

The steel framework will be repainted in blue on the north side and yellow on the south, continuing a color tradition introduced in 2014 that represents the bridge’s former division.

To strengthen the structure, concrete pillars are being reinforced with carbon mesh. 

Materials that cannot be reused will be preserved for future exhibition.

Other parts of the restoration project include reinforcing the observation tower and converting its basement into a documentary screening room. 

Workers are also replacing damaged wooden sections, repairing roofs, and refurbishing stairs and railings.

The management board emphasized that all efforts must respect the site’s historical integrity and preserve original elements wherever possible.

Chief contractor Vung acknowledged that the project faces challenges due to changing water levels and the impact of seasonal rains, but said contractors are committed to completing the work by the end of 2025 without compromising on quality or visual authenticity.

Between January and August, the site attracted roughly 35,000 visitors.