Thanh Toan Bridge is a famous bridge and must see attraction in Hue city Vietnam. Crossing a small canal, its architecture follows Vietnamese traditional styles and its year of construction dates back to the 18th century. During the day, many locals and tourists come here to sightsee, learn about history and take photos. It’s also popular for tours which focus on new experiences or rural life. So now, let’s HoiAn Day Trip Company provide all information about Thanh Toan Bridge in Hue Vietnam.
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• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Knows about Thanh Toan Bridge
– Location/address: Thanh Thuy Chanh village, Thuy Thanh ward, Huong Thuy town, Hue city, Vietnam
– Other names: Thanh Toan Covered Bridge, Thanh Toan Tile Bridge
– Opening hours: 24hrs a day 7 days a week
– Ticket price: free
– Type: covered bridge, footbridge
– Length: 17,8 meters
– Height: 4 meters
– Year of construction: 1776
– Reason(s) to visit: one of the best preserved traditional bridges in Vietnam
– Best time to visit: morning
– Time to spend: 30-45 mins
– Recognition(s): Vietnam national heritage (1990)
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/thanh-toan-bridge-hue-vietnam
– Food & drink: no
– Shopping: no
– Fact: Thanh Toan Bridge is wrongly called ‘Japanese Bridge’ because of some similarities to more famous Japanese Covered Bridge in Hoi An
Thanh Toan Bridge on Map
History of Thanh Toan Bridge
Thanh Toan Bridge was constructed on 27th November 1776 by money sponsored by Mrs Tran Thi Dao, a local woman. She was the grandchildren of a high-ranking official who worked in Le Hien Tong king’s government. Her husband is also a high-ranking official working in the Later Le Dynasty. They did not have any children. Because of her merit in constructing the bridge, villagers worship her in a small temple in the middle of the bridge and even in the communal house, the most important place of the village.
At first, Thanh Toan Bridge is a covered bridge that is 18,75 meters long and 5,82 meters wide (larger than current bridge). It spans a small river which runs through the village and near the confluence of this river with Nhu Y River, the major waterway and irrigation canal in the area.
In 1784, Thanh Toan Bridge was heavily damaged by a flood. However, until March 1847, its restoration started and after that, its sizes were smaller (16,85 meters in length and 4,63 meters in width). Its architecture was still kept. Information about this event was carved on the wooden frame of the bridge.
In 1904, Thanh Toan Bridge completely collapsed after a super typhoon. Two years later, it’s reconstructed with a total cost of 950 dong, including 700 dong donated by local people and 250 dong given from the government. After this reconstruction, its sizes are smaller again, particularly 17,8 meters in length and 4 meters in width. In 1971, Thanh Toan Bridge was restored again due to harsh weather in Hue and this is the latest restoration.
On 14th July 1990, Thanh Toan Bridge was recognized as Vietnam’s national historical heritage site. It became one of a few old bridges that received this title.
In 2012, a collection of postage stamps named ‘Vietnamese tile roof bridges’ was published. Besides Thanh Toan Bridge, it’s possible to see two other bridges: Phat Diem Bridge and Cho Luong Bridge (Luong Market Bridge).
Architecture of Thanh Toan Bridge
Today, Thanh Toan Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that is 17,8 meters in length and 4 meters in width. Its architecture is described as ‘house above, bridge below’, just like Japanese Covered Bridge in Hoi An. The bridge section has 7 spans with ironwood pillars to support. Its deck is paved by wood with two higher floors along handrails allowing people to sit down or sleep to take a rest. In the past, cars could go through the bridge, but not anymore nowadays. The left handrail provides the view to a small river/canal (west) and the right handrail provides the view to Nhu Y River and the countryside behind it (east). Roof of the bridge is fully covered by green ceramic tiles that are just used in imperial buildings. On the rooftop, there are two phoenixes and a symbol of the sun.
Thanh Toan Bridge has two entrances, one facing south and once facing north. Above each entrance, there are 4 Chinese words Thanh Phong Minh Nguyet which means ‘cool breeze (and) bright moon’, 2 Chinese words which mean ‘happiness’ and ‘long life’, and a bat which symbolizes happiness and good luck. On the sides, there are two parallel sentences written in Chinese and beautiful decorative ceramic mosaics showing a high level of local craftsmanship, with images of 4 plants (bamboo, daisy, pine and cherry blossom), representing 4 seasons in the year.
In the middle of the bridge, on the left hand side, visitors will see a small altar where local people have worshipped Mrs Tran Thi Dao who sponsored the bridge’s construction in 1776. Every 1st and 15th days of the lunar months, they come here to burn incense sticks, pray and commemorate her. On her day of death annually, the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (mid-autumn festival), a ceremony takes place.
To the south of Thanh Toan Bridge, that’s a local market and to the north of Thanh Toan Bridge, it’s possible to see a small museum where agricultural tools are exhibited. Both of these places are interesting to sightsee and learn about local life.
Thanh Toan Agricultural Tool Museum
To the north of Thanh Toan Bridge, there is Thanh Toan Agricultural Tool Museum (shortly known as Thanh Toan Museum), a place not to miss for every visitor. It’s established in 2004 and then upgraded by sponsors of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The new museum was opened to the public on 14th November 2015.
Thanh Toan Agricultural Tool Museum is home to over 200 artifacts and 100 photos about local agriculture.
To visit Thanh Toan Agricultural Tool Museum, each adult will need to pay an entry fee costing 20,000 VND.
Tips to Visit Thanh Toan Bridge
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Photos, Videos about Thanh Toan Bridge
Here are beautiful photos and videos about Thanh Toan Bridge in Hue Vietnam:
