Dragon Bridge, Da Nang

The Dragon Bridge is one of 4 bridges across the Han River linking the city centre to the area around My Khe Beach which is popular with leisure visitors to Da Nang.

Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

• Opening Hours: 24 hours a day (fire and water shows at 21:00 every Saturday and Sunday night)
• Entrance Fee: Free

About the Dragon Bridge

The Dragon Bridge in Da Nang is more than simply a way to cross a wide river. The bridge is a major tourist attraction, a source of pride for local residents, and a structure which is symbolic of both the history and the aspirations of this important Vietnamese.

Construction of the Bridge

Da Nang’s Dragon Bridge was a long time in the making. A competition to design the bridge was held in 2005. The bridge itself was then completed 8 years later in 2013. An American company, Ammann & Whitney Consulting Engineers, produced the design which was used in the construction.

The construction phase of the Dragon Bridge took 4 years to complete. The project took this long because the bridge is long and involved a number of decorative elements which are not common in these types of civil engineering projects. For this reason the Dragon Bridge is sometimes referred to as ‘architectural art’, as opposed to simply a functional structure built to overcome an obstacle (in the case the Han River).

To get a sense of what went into the construction of the bridge it’s worth considering some key characteristics of the bridge:

• Length: 666 metres.
• Width: 37.5 metres.
• Longest span: 200 metres.
• Lighting: Around 15,000 LED lights illuminate the body of the dragon sculpture in the centre of the bridge.
• Displays: The head of the dragon is fitted with a system to spray water and another to shoot out flames.

Symbolism of the Bridge

History and legend plays an important part in Vietnamese culture, and both are important in relation to the Dragon Bridge. The dragon which is depicted on the bridge is a Ly-Dynasty dragon. There are many different types of dragon in Vietnamese folklore. This particular type of dragon was used during the Ly-Dynasty period (1,010 to 1,255 AD) to represent the fledgling nation of Vietnam, with the long thin body bearing similarities to the shape of Vietnam itself.

The dragon is also associated with prosperity, which the bridge was intended to help bring to the city by increasing the number of tourists who visit.

There is a second layer of symbolism in the Dragon Bridge which relates to the more recent history of conflicts with France and later the USA for Vietnamese independence. The formal opening of the bridge was timed to coincide with the 38th anniversary of the capture of Da Nang by the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army, which was a major turning point in the conflict.

Fire and Water Shows at the Dragon Bridge

The fire and water shows at the Dragon Bridge, which happen twice weekly, last for about 15 minutes. During those 15 minutes the show alternates between 2 minute periods of flames coming from the mouth of the dragon and then 3 minute periods of water also being sprayed from the mouth.

Depending on the time of year, and the weather, it can get very busy in the area around the Dragon Bridge. Lots of people are attracted to view the show, and also to enjoy the rest of the evening in the pleasant riverside area which is full of restaurants and bars.

There are lots of places visitors can go to enjoy the show. Many people congregate on the eastern end of the bridge near the head of the dragon. This is a great vantage point, although it can be very crowded and visitors are very likely to get wet from the water sprayed out from the dragon.

A drier and less crowded place to observe the show from is the nearby DHC Marina, where if you book in advance you can sit at a table in a restaurant with a view of the bridge and enjoy food and drink whilst you wait for the show to start. Love Lock Bridge is also a really good place to observe the show from, although it will often get very crowded for exactly that reason.

Location of the Dragon Bridge

The Dragon Bridge is located 2.9 km by road from Da Nang Railway Station.