Dragon Bridge, a unique architectural symbol of Da Nang, is not only a vital traffic infrastructure but also a captivating destination for tourists. This bridge attracts visitors with its modern beauty and intriguing historical stories. Let’s explore the formation and development journey of the Dragon Bridge to better understand this icon of the beautiful coastal city.
Historical Milestones of Da Nang Dragon Bridge
Dragon Bridge, shaped like a winding dragon stretching 666 meters long and 37.5 meters wide, proudly spans the romantic Han River. The Dragon Bridge construction project cost nearly 1.5 trillion VND, an impressive figure demonstrating the city’s scale and investment. The bridge has a total of six lanes, serving the increasing travel needs of residents and tourists. The most memorable milestone is March 29, 2013, when Dragon Bridge was officially opened to traffic, marking the 38th anniversary of the liberation of Da Nang city. The design of Dragon Bridge is not only an engineering feat but also a symbol of Da Nang’s development and rise.
The unique design of Dragon Bridge is the result of a competition to select talented architects, aiming to find the most distinctive design方案 for the bridge. Two architects from the United States won the competition with their bold idea of a flying dragon, representing the city’s aspiration to reach further.
Unique Architectural Highlights of Dragon Bridge
Dragon Bridge is not just a traffic infrastructure but also a unique work of art, bearing the imprint of modern architecture. This is the bridge with the most unique dragon-shaped architecture in Vietnam, serving as a vital route connecting Da Nang International Airport with the city’s main roads.
Dragon Bridge on opening day, a new symbol of Da Nang
A special highlight of Dragon Bridge is the image of a Ly Dynasty dragon reaching out to the vast ocean, symbolizing Da Nang’s aspiration for development and integration. The dragon’s tail is stylized with the shape of a blooming lotus flower, a familiar symbol of Vietnamese villages, representing the intersection of tradition and modernity.
The soft, winding dragon body not only creates aesthetic beauty but also signifies prosperity and sustainable development. To ensure durability and long-lasting beauty, Dragon Bridge is coated with 5 layers of anti-corrosion paint, helping to protect the structure from the harsh effects of weather and the marine environment. The shimmering gold paint also contributes to the bridge’s brilliant and prominent beauty.
Dragon Bridge by Night: A Symphony of Light and Water
The beauty of Dragon Bridge is not only evident during the day but becomes even more shimmering and magical when night falls. The lighting system with 15,000 LED lights creates a colorful, radiant space, transforming the bridge into a real dragon flying in the Da Nang night sky.
In particular, Dragon Bridge also attracts tourists with unique fire-breathing and water-breathing performances, taking place every weekend evening.
Unique Fire and Water Breathing Performances
For tourists visiting Da Nang, watching the Dragon Bridge breathe fire and water is an unmissable experience.
Dragon Bridge breathing water – an impressive sight
At 9 PM every Saturday and Sunday, Dragon Bridge will perform an impressive fire-breathing show, with two rounds, each round with 9 breaths. The brilliant flames blend with the shimmering light effects to create an extremely spectacular scene. This is followed by the water-breathing performance, although short with only 3 rounds, each round with 1 breath, but enough to leave a deep impression on visitors.
To fully admire this performance, you can choose one of the following locations:
- On Dragon Bridge: Before the fire-breathing time, vehicles are not allowed to circulate on the bridge, creating conditions for visitors to freely enjoy the performance. However, be careful not to stand too close to the dragon’s head to avoid getting wet when it breathes water.
- Tran Hung Dao Street: This street runs along the Han River bank, right below the dragon’s head, making it an ideal location to admire the performance. Here, visitors can enjoy drinks at sidewalk cafes while watching Dragon Bridge breathe fire and water.
- Bach Dang Street: Located at the end of the bridge, Bach Dang Street offers a panoramic view, allowing visitors to fully admire the performance along with the beauty of the Han River.
- From above: Another unique experience is to watch Dragon Bridge breathe fire and water from above, at tall buildings near the bridge. From here, visitors can take in the panoramic view of Da Nang city shimmering at night.
- From other bridges: Da Nang is also famous for many other bridges such as Han River Bridge and Tran Thi Ly Bridge. From these bridges, visitors can also admire the fire and water breathing performance of Dragon Bridge from a different perspective.
Dragon Bridge: Rendezvous Point for Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF)
Da Nang is not only a destination for beautiful beaches, ancient pagodas, and unique cuisine but also the venue for the renowned Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF). Every year, fireworks teams from all over the world gather in this beautiful coastal city to compete, bringing spectacular fireworks displays.
With its prime location on the Han River, Dragon Bridge becomes an ideal location to watch fireworks for free. However, to fully enjoy the brilliant fireworks and live music, you should arrive early to choose a favorable spot, as the crowd gathering on the bridge is usually very large.
Directions to Dragon Bridge
To get to Dragon Bridge, visitors can choose many different means of transportation, depending on their starting point.
From Hoi An:
- Bus: This is an economical and comfortable means of transportation, with fares only around 20,000 VND/person (including luggage). Buses from Hoi An to Da Nang have a frequency of about 20 minutes/trip.
- Motorbike: If you want to explore freely, a motorbike is an ideal choice. Follow An Bang highway, then turn left at the roundabout when you see Thanh Hien seafood restaurant. Continue straight on Vo Van Kiet street, and you will see Dragon Bridge appear in front of you.
From Da Nang:
- If your hotel is near My Khe beach, follow Vo Nguyen Giap street, then turn left onto Vo Van Kiet street and go straight to Dragon Bridge.
- You can also follow Tran Phu street and then turn left to reach Dragon Bridge.
Conclusion
Dragon Bridge is not only a traffic infrastructure but also a cultural and tourist symbol of Da Nang. Learning about the history of Da Nang Dragon Bridge, admiring its unique architectural beauty, and enjoying the light, fire, and water shows are unmissable experiences when visiting this beautiful coastal city. Hopefully, the information in this article will help you have a truly memorable and meaningful trip.