Central Quang Tri province recently completed the restoration of the province's iconic Hien Luong bridge back to its original paint colors which convey huge historical importance.

The Hien Luong bridge over the Ben Hai River, which divided the then-Vietnam into two halves after the Geneva Convention in 1055, measures 89m in length. The bridge boasts two sections, with the northern section having 450 planks on the bridge surface and the southern one 444 similar planks.

After the recent restoration, the northern section has been restored to blue, the color of peace,  while the southern one has been restored to yellow.

The paint restoration is conducted based on historical documents and accounts provided by war veterans who served in the 1954 – 1960 period.

The Hien Luong Bridge, located in Hien Luong hamlet in Vinh Linh district, is of momentous historical importance as it served as the division line between North and South Vietnam during 21 years from 1954 to 1975.

The original bridge was built in 1928 from wood and could only carry passengers.

Due to wartime bombings, the bridge was destroyed and rebuilt several times.

The bridge, which served as an important war witness, was restored the first time in 2001.