The unique lighting design of Rong (Dragon) Bridge in Da Nang City in central Vietnam has been honored at the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD)’s 2014 International Lighting Design Award.

The lighting design of Dragon Bridge over Da Nang City’s iconic Han River, has received “Special Citation” from the U.S.-based organization.

According to the award organizer, the design, by local lighting designer Tran Van Thanh and ASA Lighting Design Studios in Ho Chi Minh City, is honored for a whimsical, well-crafted multimedia experience which communicates the national and religious identity.    

This is the first time a Vietnamese design has earned such a recognition of the IALD, considered the Academy Awards in the lighting designing sector.

More than 200 designs the world over, mostly from the U.S. and Europe, took part in this year’s award, with only Asian representatives, Vietnam, Japan, and China.

Thanh added that his Dragon Bridge’s lighting design is highly regarded also for its immense significance and contribution to promoting the images of Da Nang City and Vietnam in general.

Thanh’s design is also the country’s first illumination project to make it to the final round of the UK’s major FX Design Awards in 2013 and Lighting Design Awards in 2014.

The Dragon Bridge, which is made of sculpted steel and measures 666m long and 6m wide, is lit with over 2,500 LED lights every night, which automatically change color for different events and festivals.

Apart from being lit up with sparkling lights, water and fire are emitted from the dragon’s mouth every weekend night.

The bridge, which cost over VND1,700 billion (US$81.7 million), won the diamond prize at the ACEC New York for its innovation and beauty.

The bridge is of great significance as it is expected to help tap the economic and tourism potential of Son Tra District, located to the east of Da Nang City.

As soon as the bridge was put into operation in March 2013, it became one of Da Nang’s most appealing attractions, significantly adding to the city’s nightly hustle and bustle, as locals and tourists stay up into the wee hours to look at it.

It also makes the shortest route to downtown city from Da Nang International Airport, and is one of the routes which lead to My Khe and Non Nuoc Beaches, two of the city’s scenic spots.

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