Local students sketch historic Long Bien Bridge Students from the University of Architecture in Hanoi on March 9 took the day to sketch the cantilever Long Bien Bridge, which has stood as a prominent feature of Hanoi’s image for over 100 years. Long Bien Bridge Most students gathered at the central basin of Red River where Long Bien Bridge spans across to capture the best image in their artwork. The would-be architects showed their keen interest in exploring the unique beauty of ancient architecture applied on Long Bien Bridge. The best works will be selected for display at an exhibition in Hanoi in the coming time. Long Bien Bridge, 2,290m long, was built between 1899 and 1902 by the French, and opened to traffic in 1903. Over the past 100 years, the steel structure has had a strong association with Hanoi’s trials and tribulations and witnessed many historical events. Spanning three centuries and suffering war wounds, the bridge has still stood the test of time, linking the two banks of the Hong (Red) River. Some photos on making sketches of Long Bien Bridge on March 9:     VNS