Saigon Bridge

Saigon Bridge

Cầu Sài Gòn
Saigon Bridge and the nearby skyscraper Landmark 81
Coordinates10°47′56″N 106°43′38″E / 10.79889°N 106.72722°E / 10.79889; 106.72722
CrossesSaigon River
LocaleHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Other name(s)Newport Bridge
Characteristics
MaterialConcrete
Total length1,010 metres (3,310 ft)
Width26 metres (85 ft)
History
DesignerDrake and Piper Johnson
OpenedJune 28, 1961
Location

Saigon Bridge, also known as Newport Bridge (Cầu Tân Cảng) before 1975, is a bridge crossing the Saigon River, connecting Bình Thạnh District and District 2, Ho Chi Minh City now is Thủ Đức, on the Hanoi Highway. The bridge has four lanes for cars and two lanes for motorcycles and bicycles. It was the only bridge linking District 1 to the new Thu Thiem New Urban Area in District 2 until the inauguration of Thủ Thiêm Bridge in 2008 and the Saigon River Tunnel in 2011. The bridge is one of the eastern gateway of the city and was also one of the most vital gateways for vehicles traveling from northern and central Vietnam to the city, and therefore was a key point of contention during the Tet Offensive in 1968 and the Fall of Saigon in 1975. In 2013, a new parallel bridge, Saigon 2 Bridge, was inaugurated to ease congestion on the bridge.