Nhat Tan Bridge – A symbol of Vietnam-Japan friendship

Hanoi, October 8 (VNA) – Finishing touches are being applied to Hanoi’s Nhat Tan Bridge, which is Vietnam’s biggest cable suspension bridge and a symbol of the Vietnam-Japan friendship. The bridge is considered a gift the Japanese people present to Hanoi on the occasion of its 60th Liberation Day. The 8-lane bridge is 3.75km long and 33.2m wide, with access roads at each end totalling 5.17km. It links Phu Thuong ward in Tay Ho district and Nam Hong street in Dong Anh district on the way to the Noi Bai International Airport. The project was approved by the Ministry of Transport in 2006 with a total investment of more than 13.6 trillion VND (647.6 million USD), of which a large proportion was provided as official development assistance (ODA) from the Japanese Government. Since 1992, Japan has been the largest ODA donor for Vietnam , contributing greatly to the improvement of Vietnamese traffic infrastructure. The Ministry of Transport’s Project Management Unit 85 said Japan has helped Vietnam successfully implement a number of major traffic infrastructure projects requiring highly sophisticated technology such as the Hai Van tunnel, Tien Sa port, and Can Tho and Bai Chay bridges. Nhat Tan Bridge will act as a gateway to Vietnam’s capital, and is expected to bear the name “Vietnam-Japan Friendship Bridge” as an acknowledgement of Japan’s support. Nguyen Le Minh, head of the project’s executive board, said the Vietnamese side gained valuable knowledge from Japanese experts during construction. Both sides jointly devised a number of building methods to overcome challenges and ensure project progress and quality, he noted, adding that the bridge has been almost completed. Tojuro Nishi, a director of the project in charge of building the main bridge and the northern access road, said Japan’s IHI Infrastructure Systems Ltd Co. and Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Ltd Co. has faced an array of difficulties during construction. He said he is proud to have helped Vietnamese engineers in building this historical bridge. He also expressed his belief that with the completion of Nhat Tan Bridge, Vietnamese and Japanese engineers have contributed to the friendship and economic relations between Vietnam and Japan.-VNA