The new bridge is part of a $2 billion investment that's helping Vietnam to become one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations on Earth.
Wirestock, Inc./Alamy Stock PhotoGolden Bridge, seen from above, was ranked about the top 100 World’s Greatest Places by Time magazine in 2018.
In the summer of 2018, TA Landscape Architecture unveiled an extensive new project in Vietnam’s Ba Na Hills resort known as Golden Bridge. From a distance it seems to be held up by two massive stone hands, meant to evoke the image of the “giant hands of Gods, pulling a strip of gold out of the land.”
The hands are actually constructed of fiberglass and wire mesh, a clever bit of architectural design that gives the impression of something far more ancient. Almost immediately, the bridge attracted tens of thousands of tourists, many of whom posted photos to Instagram with the tag #goldenbridgevietnam. And while the bridge itself is a marvel to behold, the view it offers of Nui Chua mountain is equally splendid.
Since it was first opened to the public, numerous publications have hailed Golden Bridge as a “new wonder of the world” — and it’s easy to see why.
Vietnam’s Golden Bridge, A New Wonder Of The Modern World
Oscar Espinosa/Alamy Stock PhotoGolden Bridge is around 492 feet long.
The practical purpose of Golden Bridge, or “Cau Vang,” was to connect Ba Na Hills’ then-newly upgraded cable car station to the Thien Thai Garden, a journey that was previously difficult due to the high elevation. But architects at TA Landscape Architecture were not content with just a simple bridge, and so they began constructing one that would tell a story.
“As an extension of Thien Thai Garden, the Golden Bridge represents the current design theme focusing on myths as well as on people and nature,” the firm describes on their website. “The main idea towards ‘the gods’ surpasses the natural person. ‘The gods’ are often described as supernatural forces in the human form with superior proportions. Therefore, human body parts with enlarged proportions like giant hands on the Golden Bridge are included in designs to attract visitors.”
Wibowo Rusli/Alamy Stock PhotoGolden Bridge on a foggy day.
Maintaining an aspect of harmony with nature was also of importance to the bridge’s designers. They wanted to be certain not to damage the surrounding environment or affect the cliff below, while still maintaining their unique vision for the bridge’s design. This influenced the stone-like design of the hands, but it also impacted smaller details like the positioning of the fingers, which the architectural firm says were “designed and remodeled several times to get the best shape.”
These intentional design elements were orchestrated by the company’s founder, Vu Viet Anh, who also served as the principal designer for the project alongside bridge designer Tran Quang Hung and design manager Nguyen Quang Huu Tuan.
Aleksandr Korchagin/Alamy Stock PhotoThe hand of Golden Bridge at night.
According to Vietnam Plus, Anh said his goal with the project was “to invoke the sensation of walking along a thread stretching through the hands of God.”
Golden Bridge Became An Instant Tourist And Media Attraction
Wirestock, Inc./Alamy Stock PhotoAn aerial view of Golden Bridge and the surrounding mountains above Da Nang.
Evidently, their goal of attracting visitors was a success. Countless visitors have traversed the bridge since its inception, sharing their amazement online and with Reuters.
“I feel like I’m walking on clouds,” said one tourist from Hanoi, Vuong Thuy Linh. “It’s so unique.”
Another tourist remarked, “The two, smooth, giant hands look real. It makes me feel like humans can do anything.”
Shockingly, the only person who didn’t anticipate the worldwide recognition and praise was Anh, who remarked that he was surprised about the amount of attention the bridge had received. For anyone else who sees it, though, it’s instantly clear why the bridge is so popular: it feels like something out of a fantasy story. The obvious comparison would be to liken the hands of Golden Bridge to the statues of Isildur and Anárion in The Lord of the Rings.
Tawatchai Prakobkit/Alamy Stock PhotoA tourist walking across Golden Bridge in Da Nang, Vietnam.
Publications from around the world — including The Guardian, Huff Post, Insider, and Time — have cited Golden Bridge as one of the most striking, visually impressive, and straight-up “coolest” bridges in the world. Unsurprisingly, as Vietnam News reports, Golden Bridge’s popularity has also helped the country’s tourism industry bounce back in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the first half of 2023 alone, more than 3.5 million people visited Da Nang, many of whom likely visited Golden Bridge. To explain just how impressive that is, it was a 116.6 percent increase from the year prior.
“The Golden Bridge is immensely impressive,” said South Korean traveler Cho Il-sang. “Visiting Vietnam, we absolutely couldn’t pass up the opportunity to witness this remarkable feat of architecture.”
Nick Sarebi/Flickr Creative CommonsA group of tourists taking a photograph on Golden Bridge.
Of all international visitors, the majority hailed from South Korea, followed closely by tourists from Thailand, China, Taiwan, and India, but Golden Bridge also drew in visitors from parts of the Western world as well.
“Even though my country has many magnificent architectural structures, Golden Bridge managed to arouse unique and strong emotions within me,” said Italian tourist Adrian Scholer. “When I first saw its images on YouTube, I was absolutely astonished, as I believed such a breathtaking landmark could only exist in fantasy movies. Yet, here ware, faced with this very real and truly spectacular scenery!”
At the time of the bridge’s construction, Anh and his fellow designers were already planning out their next project, but for now there are few experiences that can compare to walking across Vietnam’s Golden Bridge.
Next, check out the footage of the crazy twists and turns of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse. Then, see why the Peak Walk suspension bridge is so thrilling — and terrifying.
