Perspective of Ha Long Love Bridge
General Introduction to Ha Long Love Bridge
Love Bridge (also known as Cua Luc 1 Bridge) is a landmark structure spanning the Cua Luc Bay in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. Construction commenced in April 2020 with a total investment of over 2.1 trillion VND from the Quang Ninh provincial budget. The bridge was officially opened to traffic on January 1, 2022.
Love Bridge is the first six-lane bridge in Quang Ninh, connecting the northern and southern regions of Ha Long City across Cua Luc Bay. The bridge’s starting point intersects with the road connecting the Cai Lan – Viet Hung industrial zone to the Ha Long – Van Don expressway in Gieng Day Ward; the terminal point connects to National Highway 279 at Km24+750, located in Le Loi Commune, Ha Long City.
The bridge was named “Love Bridge” to symbolize the connection and bond between the expanded Ha Long City and the former Hoanh Bo District following their merger. Prior to the naming, Ha Long City conducted a public survey, with 84% of over 80,000 respondents favoring the name “Love Bridge.”
See more: Hoanh Bo Tourism
Design Concept and Technical Specifications
Ha Long Love Bridge features a unique, aesthetically striking design inspired by the concept of “Seabird wings over Ha Long Bay.” This vision stems from a desire to create an architectural work that harmonizes with nature, reflecting the spirit of aspiration and progress of the Quang Ninh people. The seabird is also a symbolic creature of the coastal region, representing luck, happiness, and freedom.
The main bridge span is 885m long, consisting of 5 arches made of concrete-filled steel tubes combined with prestressed reinforced concrete. This utilizes one of the most advanced technologies in bridge construction, enhancing structural load-bearing capacity and vibration resistance. The approach bridge section is 565m long, with an additional 3,380m of approach roads, all designed in a modern style that aligns with Ha Long City’s urban planning.
The bridge is 33.1m wide, featuring six lanes with a maximum speed limit of 60 km/h. Furthermore, it includes two pedestrian walkways, each 2.5m wide. These paths allow visitors to stroll across the bridge and enjoy panoramic views of Ha Long Bay and the city from above. The sides of the bridge feature sidewalks, observation decks, and flower beds to enhance the tourist landscape. The observation decks are designed with V-shaped canopies, providing comfort and protection for visitors. The flower beds are planted with beautiful flora suited to the local coastal climate.
Love Bridge at night
At night, the lighting system integrates with decorative lights on the cable stays to create a shimmering backdrop, reminiscent of a starry sky. The floodlights are installed to follow the contours of the arches, producing a vibrant and vivid lighting effect. Decorative lights are arranged in the shape of seabird wings, creating flowing, ethereal patterns. Both types of lighting can change colors to suit different themes, creating distinct atmospheres that captivate visitors.
Significance and Role of Love Bridge
Ha Long Love Bridge plays a vital role in connecting the urban center of Ha Long City with key arteries such as the Cai Lan – Viet Hung industrial zone, the Ha Long – Van Don expressway, and National Highway 279. The bridge has reduced travel time for residents from these peripheral areas to central Ha Long from 1.5 hours to less than 1 hour. It has also helped Ha Long City expand its development space, attracting investment resources and boosting tourism and the economy. The bridge’s starting point intersects with the route connecting the Cai Lan – Viet Hung industrial zone to the Ha Long – Van Don expressway in Gieng Day Ward; the endpoint connects to National Highway 279 at Km24+750, in Le Loi Commune, Ha Long City. The system of approach roads leading to Love Bridge spans nearly 4 km, with some sections reaching up to 10 lanes alongside a massive cloverleaf interchange. Since its inauguration, Love Bridge has bridged the gap between the urban core and remote areas of the former Hoanh Bo district, facilitating significant socio-economic development and infrastructure integration.
The bridge also plays a pivotal role in expanding Ha Long City’s development space, ensuring seamless transportation connectivity for both the city and its surrounding regions. As one of Quang Ninh Province’s key infrastructure projects, the Love Bridge is designed to foster a synchronized transport network, linking areas both within and beyond the province. Thanks to the Love Bridge, residents of Hoanh Bo can now easily travel to renowned tourist destinations such as Bai Chay and Tuan Chau. Furthermore, the bridge serves as a vital element in Ha Long City’s ambition to fulfill the criteria required to become a centrally-governed Class I city.
