Hai Phong’s notable bridge landmarks combine modern architecture, port-city infrastructure and traces of the city’s industrial history. If you have limited time, prioritize Hoang Van Thu Bridge for its large steel arch, the historic Quay railway bridge and neighboring Tam Bac road bridge for local history, and Lac Long Bridge as part of a central riverside walk.
Hai Phong’s municipal boundary expanded in 2025, so the city now contains many more bridges than one short guide can cover. The ten entries below focus on the coastal urban area and major approaches toward Cat Hai and Quang Ninh. This is not a ranking: several bridges are busy transport links rather than places to stop or walk.
Quick guide to Hai Phong’s notable bridges
- Modern city landmark: Hoang Van Thu Bridge.
- Historic bridge setting: the old Quay railway bridge beside Tam Bac road bridge.
- Convenient central riverside views: Tam Bac, Lac Long and the public space near the city end of Hoang Van Thu Bridge.
- Distinctive urban gateways: Binh Bridge and Rao Bridge.
- Large-scale crossings seen during a journey: Tan Vu–Lach Huyen Bridge and Bach Dang Bridge.
- Mainly of local transport or engineering interest: Kien, Kien An and Khue bridges.
Use a riverside park or promenade for photographs whenever possible. Never stop in a traffic lane, on an expressway shoulder or on the railway structure, and follow current signs wherever pedestrian access is restricted.
Central Hai Phong bridge landmarks
1. Hoang Van Thu Bridge
Hoang Van Thu Bridge crosses the Cam River between central Hai Phong and the Bac Song Cam area. It opened to traffic on 15 October 2019 and became a prominent symbol of the city’s expansion north of the river.
The three-span main bridge is 290 meters long, with a 200-meter central span supported by concrete-filled steel-tube arch ribs. Its 33.5-meter-wide deck carries four motor-vehicle lanes, two mixed-traffic lanes and sidewalks. The arch and curved approaches were designed around the image of a seabird’s wings.
Best for: modern architecture and broad river views. The public riverside space near the Hong Bang end is a safer place to appreciate the structure than stopping on the bridge. Although stairs and elevators were installed for pedestrian access, elevator availability can change, so do not depend on them when planning a visit.
2. Tam Bac Road Bridge and the historic Quay Railway Bridge
These are two separate bridges standing close together across the Tam Bac River. The older Quay Bridge was built around 1901–1902 for the railway. Its central span originally rotated 90 degrees to clear a passage for boats, which explains the Vietnamese name cau Quay, or swing bridge. The mechanism has long been fixed, and the structure remains part of the railway rather than a sightseeing walkway.
The neighboring Tam Bac road bridge opened on 27 April 2013 to separate road and rail traffic. It is about 198 meters long and received a decorative lighting installation in 2019. Together, the two bridges create a recognizable contrast between the city’s historic and modern infrastructure.
Best for: viewing from the Tam Bac riverside promenade, particularly around dusk. Stay off the railway tracks, and use only designated pedestrian space if current signs permit access.
3. Lac Long Bridge
Lac Long Bridge also crosses the Tam Bac River, linking Dien Bien Phu Street with Bach Dang Street. Construction of the present bridge began in September 1992, and it opened on 2 September 1993. Its central location makes it more relevant to a city walk than the larger bridges on the outer transport routes.
Best for: combining with the Tam Bac riverfront and nearby central streets. Low-lying roads or underpasses in this area can collect water during heavy rain or high tides, so choose another approach if temporary barriers are in place.
Urban gateways and regional river crossings
4. Binh Bridge
Binh Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge across the Cam River. It opened on 13 May 2005. The bridge is 1,280 meters long and 22.5 meters wide, with a 260-meter main span.
The crossing connects the inner city with the northern side of the Cam River and the wider road network toward Thuy Nguyen and Quang Ninh. It was seriously damaged when ships broke loose during a typhoon in 2010, then repaired and fully reopened in November 2012.
Best for: recognizing Hai Phong’s cable-stayed bridge era and seeing the bridge while crossing as a passenger. It is an active traffic corridor, not a place to stop for photographs.
5. Kien Bridge
Kien Bridge carries National Highway 10 across the Cam River. Opened on 28 September 2003, the cable-stayed bridge is approximately 1,186 meters long and 16.7 meters wide, with a 200-meter main span.
Kien Bridge serves substantial through traffic, including heavy vehicles, and congestion can occur on the Kien–Quan Toan corridor. Its 200-meter main span was a significant engineering achievement at the time of opening, but later Vietnamese cable-stayed bridges have much longer spans.
Best for: travelers interested in transport engineering. Treat it as a working highway bridge rather than a relaxed sightseeing stop, and observe any temporary repair or vehicle-restriction signs.
6. Rao Bridge
The present Rao Bridge is the steel-arch crossing opened on 25 January 2022. It replaced the deteriorated earlier bridge and crosses the Lach Tray River between Lach Tray Street and Pham Van Dong Street, forming a major southern gateway from central Hai Phong.
The main bridge is about 456.5 meters long and 30.5 meters wide. Three steel arches rise above four motor-vehicle lanes, two mixed-traffic lanes and sidewalks. Earlier bridges at this location were connected with Hai Phong’s wartime transport history, but the structure visible today is the modern replacement, not the bridge described in those accounts.
Best for: a dramatic approach when traveling between the center and the Do Son or Duong Kinh side of the city.
7. Kien An Bridge
Kien An Bridge crosses the Lach Tray River on Provincial Road 351 between the Kien An and An Hai areas. It opened in early 2005 as a project marking the 75th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
The five-span prestressed-concrete bridge is 252.3 meters long and 12 meters wide, with two motor-vehicle lanes and two pedestrian lanes. It replaced a ferry and a low-capacity suspension bridge that had served the crossing for more than four decades.
Best for: understanding the local road connection west of central Hai Phong. This is primarily functional infrastructure, and peak-hour congestion can affect the approaches.
8. Khue Bridge (Cau Khue)
Khue Bridge crosses the Van Uc River on Provincial Road 354. It opened on 6 October 2010 and removed the need for travelers to rely on the former Khue ferry between the An Hung and Tien Lang sides of the river.
The bridge structure is 787 meters long and 11 meters wide. The full 1,298-meter section includes its approach roads. It carries two motor-vehicle lanes with pedestrian margins.
Best for: regional travel south of the urban center. Severe storms, unusually high water or flooded approaches can lead to temporary closures, so follow local traffic notices during extreme weather.
Major coastal and expressway bridges
9. Tan Vu–Lach Huyen Bridge
Tan Vu–Lach Huyen Bridge, also called the Dinh Vu–Cat Hai sea bridge, links the Dinh Vu side of Hai Phong with Cat Hai and the Lach Huyen port area. The route opened on 2 September 2017 and replaced part of the journey that had depended on ferries and barges.
The sea-crossing bridge is 5.44 kilometers long within a 15.63-kilometer road project. It remains Vietnam’s longest sea-crossing bridge and is an important part of the road route toward Cat Hai. The bridge does not reach Cat Ba Island itself, so onward transport is still required.
Best for: wide coastal views for passengers during the journey. Port traffic can be heavy, and drivers must not stop on the bridge for photographs.
10. Bach Dang Bridge
Bach Dang Bridge carries the Hai Phong–Ha Long expressway across the Bach Dang River between Hai Phong and Quang Ninh. It opened to traffic on 1 September 2018 and substantially shortened the road connection between the two cities.
The bridge itself is approximately 3.05 kilometers long. The larger bridge, approach-road and interchange project extends about 5.4 kilometers. Its main cable-stayed section has three pylons and four spans, and the crossing carries four traffic lanes.
Best for: seeing a major regional engineering project as a passenger traveling between Hai Phong and Ha Long. It is part of an expressway corridor, so it should never be treated as a roadside photo stop.
How to plan a bridge-focused visit
- For a short city visit: focus on Hoang Van Thu Bridge, the Tam Bac and Quay bridge pair, and Lac Long Bridge. They offer the most practical combination of architecture, history and riverside public space.
- For a drive through Hai Phong: Binh and Rao bridges are recognizable urban gateways, while Kien, Kien An and Khue are more useful as route landmarks.
- On the way to Cat Hai or Cat Ba: Tan Vu–Lach Huyen is the important coastal crossing. For the onward island journey, the current Hai Phong to Cat Ba transfer provides transport on both sides of the Dong Bai–Cai Vieng ferry.
- On the way to Ha Long: Bach Dang Bridge is part of the expressway connection into Quang Ninh. A Hai Phong to Halong transfer serves hotels and the main cruise ports in Ha Long.
- For evening views: use established riverside public areas and check the conditions on arrival. Decorative lighting schedules can change.
Frequently asked questions
Which bridge represents modern Hai Phong?
Hoang Van Thu Bridge is a practical choice for present-day architecture because of its large red arch, central river setting and role in the city’s northward expansion. For historic character, choose the old Quay railway bridge and view it beside the newer Tam Bac road bridge.
Can visitors walk across the bridges?
Some urban bridges have marked sidewalks, but access conditions and maintenance arrangements can change. Use only designated pedestrian space and obey signs. Do not walk on the historic Quay railway bridge, on expressway bridges or in traffic lanes.
Are all these bridge landmarks tourist attractions?
No. Hoang Van Thu, the Tam Bac riverfront cluster and Lac Long are the most practical for a sightseeing visit. Binh and Rao are visually recognizable working bridges. Kien, Kien An, Khue, Tan Vu–Lach Huyen and Bach Dang are primarily transport infrastructure best appreciated as part of a journey.
Choosing which Hai Phong bridges to see
Choose Hoang Van Thu and the Tam Bac riverfront if bridge architecture is the main interest and your time is limited. Add Lac Long for a central walk. Treat the larger highway, coastal and expressway crossings as route landmarks, and always let current traffic signs, weather restrictions and safe stopping rules take priority over sightseeing plans.