Da Nang: walking across the Han River

In Da Nang, crossing the Han River usually means hopping into a vehicle. But among the bridges spanning this river, there is one that no longer lets vehicles drive across: the Nguyễn Văn Trỗi Bridge. Motor vehicles have been banned from crossing here; the bridge has been renovated and is now reserved for pedestrians — which means you can cross to the other side on your own, no need to call a ride. Where the bridge leads. On the west bank, the bridge leads onto the Bạch Đằng thoroughfare running along the river, on the city-centre side. On the east bank, it comes down onto the Trần Hưng Đạo stretch, where right at the foot of the bridge there is a riverside park that has been spruced up. Both ends of the bridge therefore sit on the two major roads that run along the two banks, so whether you arrive by taxi, by motorbike or on foot from the riverside area, you will end up on exactly those routes. The bridge itself has some age to it. This is the first road bridge across the Han River, dating back to 1965 — it was there before most of what you see on both banks today. A detail worth timing your visit for: on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, including Tet, the bridge's middle span is raised and then lowered once to let boats pass through. The traffic on the river and the traffic on the bridge meet at exactly that moment, and that is also when the biggest crowds gather to watch. Walk all the way across the bridge to the west side and you'll reach Bạch Đằng walking street. This street section lies on the extended stretch of Bạch Đằng Street, running from where it meets the approach road to Trần Thị Lý Bridge to the end of APEC Park, near the Dragon Bridge, and connects directly to Nguyễn Văn Trỗi Bridge. Along the route, there are clusters of kiosks built from shipping containers, mobile food carts, stone benches, public restrooms, free Wi-Fi, lighting, and greenery. When it was put into operation, the city announced that the walking street would be open from 3 p.m. to midnight. Put together, this is a seamless walking route: get off at one bank, cross the bridge, then keep strolling along the other bank without having to get back on a vehicle. Opening hours and activities on the bridge and the pedestrian street may change depending on the season and events, so before you go, please double-check with the hotel reception or the city's information channels to be sure.