With a number of rivers snaking through Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam, it’s not surprising that the city boasts over 200 bridges. From the historic Saigon Bridge to the colourful ‘Starlight Bridge’, here are some of the most famous and beautiful structures in Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon).
A fairly recent addition to Ho Chi Minh City‘s skyline, Phú Mỹ Bridge was erected in 2009. It was the first cable-stayed bridge in the city and was welcomed with an official ceremony that the President of Vietnam attended. This six-lane bridge connects district two and seven, and is also a part of the city’s new ring road. Although the bridge was primarily built to manage the city’s ever-growing amount of traffic, it also has a dedicated pedestrian lane with a fantastic view of Saigon River.
Although it may not be much to look at now, Saigon Bridge has played a key part in Vietnam’s history throughout the years. In the past, the bridge was not only an essential gateway between Saigon and the rest of the country, it was also the site of many major events during the Vietnam War. Both the Tet Offensive and the Fall of Saigon, two key attacks during this era, have strong ties to this bridge.
Located in district seven and stretching across Thay Tieu Canal, Anh Sao Bridge is one of the most popular bridges for sightseers in Ho Chi Minh City. The name of this impressive structure aptly translates as Starlight Bridge, due to the flurry of colourful lights that are spread across the crescent-shaped form. The pedestrianised bridge is a perfect romantic setting for an evening stroll, as long as you don’t mind sharing the moment with crowds of other smitten couples holding selfie sticks!
Easily identifiable by two sweeping red structures, Ông Lớn Bridge is one of the most unusual and charming in the city. Although the bridge doesn’t have a particularly interesting part in Ho Chi Minh City’s history, it does have a certain importance in current day culture. The spot has become a popular meeting place for young people, especially in the evenings when you can find a number of motorbike drivers parked up and snapping selfies.
Over 100 years old, this unusual bridge was designed and built by a company owned by Gustave Eiffel, the same architect to design the Eiffel Tower. The structure was named Mống Bridge, or ‘Rainbow Bridge’, due to its unique, curved underbelly. And although it may be underwhelming in comparison to some of the towering bridges in the rest of the city, Mống Bridge does offer a rather picturesque view of the Tàu Hủ Canal.
