It’s not tall, it’s not long, it’s not wide, you would not be awed by it’s structural magnificence, but somehow this little red bridge captivated me on our recent visit to Hanoi.
It’s an especially bright red and at night the bridge becomes an even brighter red as neon lights make it visible across Hoan Kiem Lake.
I took dozens of pictures trying to unravel its appeal to my eye. The criss-crossing lines, the reflections, the colors – I was a fan.
The little red bridge in Hanoi’s Old Quarter is called The Huc Bridge (Cầu Thê Húc in Vietnamese). The bridge’s name means “Morning Sunlight Bridge”
The bridge was designed in a traditional Vietnamese style with bright red lacquered wood, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune.
The bridge was built in the 19th century, during the reign of Emperor Tự Đức (1847–1883) of the Nguyễn Dynasty.
The bridge leads to Ngoc Son Temple, which is located on a small island in Hoan Kiem Lake.
While Hanoi endured heavy bombing during the Vietnam War The Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son Temple were spared from destruction.
With all the destruction in Hanoi during the Vietnam War the survival of the Huc Bridge became a symbol of resilience to the North Vietnamese.
I likely won’t see the little red bridge again but I have it in my memories and in my pictures.