The cultural authorities in Hanoi are taking into consideration a proposal to organize regular firework shows in the vicinity of the capital city’s newly inaugurated bridge.

To Van Dong, director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, addressed a meeting on Tuesday regarding the media and public attention toward its proposal to regularly hold firework shows in an area near Nhat Tan Bridge.

Dong said the proposal aims to turn the bridge into one of the city’s icons and a tourist attraction.

The plan is inspired by the Rong (Dragon) Bridge in the central city of Da Nang.

The bridge, which is shaped like a giant dragon and emits fire every 15 minutes each weekend night, has become the pride of the central city’s residents and a draw to tourists.

Dong also rejected information that the firework shows will be held on Nhat Tan Bridge.

“The shows, if approved, will be launched on a land plot along the banks of the Hong (Red) River – the largest in the north. The shows will pose no impediment to the passing traffic, and spectators can get clear views of the pyrotechnic displays from either of the river’s banks, or Thang Long and Nhat Tan Bridges,” he noted.

His department is currently working on a project and seeking consultancy from relevant agencies regarding the shows’ possible impact on traffic and residential areas in the vicinity.

Dong said the project will be funded by social mobilization upon approval.

Three enterprises have so far offered monetary contributions to the project. One has committed VND1.3 billion (US$60,583).

The project would at first be implemented on a pilot basis, the department director noted.

Pyrotechnic shows are expected to light up 30 spots in the city on Lunar New Year’s Eve on February 18.

Five high-range firework shows are set to sparkle over Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake, Thong Nhat Park, Lac Long Quan Garden, Van Quan Lake, and My Dinh National Stadium.

The other 25 low-range firework shows will take place in other areas.

Dong said his department is mulling whether or not to launch an additional firework show near Nhat Tan Bridge on the night.

The construction of the 8.93 km bridge, the seventh and the longest bridge spanning the Hong River, began in March 2009 with a total investment of VND13.6 trillion (US$639.2 million).

Built with cutting-edge Japanese technology, Nhat Tan Bridge is 33.2 meters wide for six lanes of traffic and two emergency stop lanes.

The number of its suspension spans is among the largest in the world.

The travel time by car from the bridge to Noi Bai International Airport is only 15 minutes.

The bridge is expected to help deal with traffic jams on the Thang Long-Noi Bai route and reduce traveling costs from the center of Hanoi to adjacent provinces, officials said.

Since it was opened to traffic on January 4, police said they have fined dozens of people who climbed onto the bridge corridors or parked their bikes haphazardly in the bridge’s traffic lanes for photo shoots.

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