Hue city is famous for millions tourist around the world who are seeking for tombs, citadel, unique architecture and temples. Apart from those outstanding places and from noisy urban life, let’s join us in exploring a charming side of Hue city: Thanh Toan Bridge. It’s a tile-roofed bridge over a ditch of Thuy Thanh commune, Hue. Obviously, this is typical beauty of the countryside Viet Nam which are simple, unique and rustic. Coming here, you have a chance to back to hundreds years ago to know the history of the Bridge . Also, let’s visualize the ancient life and interesting culture that have been becoming a proud and conserving by Vietnamese generations.
Thanh Toan Bridge
Location and history of Thanh Toan Bridge
Thanh Toan Bridge is located in Thuy Thanh commune, Huong Thuy Town which is about 8km to southeast of Hue city. This perfect location is ideally suitable to make a travel by convinient Hue scooter rental. The Bridge is a hidden destination that regrettably missed by tourist when coming to Hue. The main reason for that is the great impression of temples, tombs, the citadel, Truong Tien bridge, Thien Mu pagoda and it’s not in the center of the city. Recently, however, more and more travel agency have been choosing Thanh Toan Bridge as an important destination to the countryside. Also, the increasing need of many visitors who seeking for a peaceful time and rustic beauty make The Bridge to be the top choice.
Mrs Tran Thi Dao who was the wife of a high-ranking Mandarin, established the bridge in 1776 with an aim to improve the transportation and communication in her village. Despite of the fact that building for over 200 years and been damaged by wars, the structure is still firm due to regular restoration. It can remind to the bridges in Hoi An Town thanks to the similarities. The ditch under Thanh Toan Bridge is covered with lotus. Take a look around, those are the representative things of a Vietnamese village in the old days.
Unique architecture of Thanh Toan Bridge
The bridge was built entirely by wood with a length of 16.85m and a width of 4.63m. It is divided into 7 compartments. Standing outside, the bridge looks like a house.The main pillars of the bridge straight down the water for hundred years but still firm. The two sides of the bridge are built of brick and carved of dragon and phoenix shapes. The roof is covered with a yin-yang tile and in the middle is the picture of two phoenix and the sun. Thanh Toan tile bridge is one of the rare tiled-roof bridge left in Vietnam beside Japanese bridge in Hoi An.
Thanh Toan Bridge architecture
There are two railing in both sides and an altar of Tran Thi Dao in Thanh Toan Bridge. In 1925, King Khai Dinh has ordered the locals to set up an altar on the bridge to worship and wish her to embrace for the villagers.
Interesting things to see in Thanh Toan Bridge
Thanh Toan Bridge is not only for crossing, but also for meeting, relaxing and worshipping. All these attractive activities you will find out how amazing this place is:
- Place for meeting
At the foot of the bridge is a large land where people use for living and market. There is also a local hall which used for community activities and trade transactions. The people hunting for foods, catching fishes and other products and then gather here for exchanging. That is the small market nearby Thanh Toan Bridge. You can get inside and look for many local product such as incenses, conical hats, dried tea and offerings. Therefore, they hold the local market festival here because of the unique identity of the Vietnamese countryside. It’s extremely bustling in the festival days.
2. Place for relaxing and worshipping
It’s really cool when you are sitting on the railing in the sunset. For many tourist this is the most favourite destination to relax and free in the nature. Also, you have chance to watch the daily life of local around such as fishing, farming. Everyday, the large land nearby is the ideal place for kids playing games such as football, tugging and singing. It’s could not be better to take a real rustic life to get amazing memories.
Thanh Toan Bridge when festival
Besides, Thanh Toan Bridge Hue is a holy place where locals come and pray. They burn intense to tribute Mrs Tran Thi Dao and the gods of the area. Also, the argriculture museum nearby show off the village’s culture which is based around rice. Also, it shows some of the tools used during the harvest, and traditional clothing and games of the people who live here.
How to get to Thanh Toan Bridge?
Our friendly tour guide
For sure, the best way for traveling to Thanh Toan Bridge in Hue is by motorbike. With Hue countryside motorbike tour, you will entirely satisfied by our friendly tour guide who will accompany with you during the trip. It’s going to be an amazing travel when visiting Thanh Toan Bridge. Get ready!