A new bridge has opened in the Vietnamese city of Da Nang to celebrate the 38th anniversary of its liberation during the Vietnam War. But this bridge isn’t your typical bridge. This bridge is in the shape of a giant dragon that breathes huge balls of fire.
The Dragon Bridge is now the country’s largest steel-span arch (166 meters). The main span of the 37.5 meter wide bridge is bookended by two 128 meter side sections with a head and tail on each of those. The dragon head can shoot out both fire and water and at night it’s lit up by 2,500 LED bulbs.
It’s based on the dragon of the Ly Dynasty, a creature known in Vietnamese folklore for flying to the sea and bringing good luck.
Designed by the American firm Louis Berger Group, the bridge cost more than 1.7 trillion Vietnamese dong or roughly $81.6 million since construction began in April 2009.
It was originally scheduled to open in late 2012 but construction was slightly overdue. It was opened by Vietnam’s deputy prime minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.
Dragon Bridge connects Da Nang International Airport with the city’s most popular beaches and the downtown area.
