Ha Giang
Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh City
Ha Long
Sapa
Mekong Delta
Da Nang
Hue
Hoi An
Ninh Binh
Da Lat
Nha Trang
Phan Thiet
Phu Quoc
Quang Binh
Quy Nhon
Vung Tau
Thai Nguyen
I love old bridges and I would like to photograph Long Bien Bridge at sunrise in Hanoi. I have seen amazing photos of the rusted steel and the morning light, but I am not sure if walking on the bridge is actually safe and allowed.
Is there a pedestrian path separated from motorbikes and trains, or do you share a narrow lane with traffic? I am a careful walker, but I do not want to be stuck on a bridge when a train comes through.
Also, where is the best place to stand for sunrise, on the bridge itself or from the riverbank below? And how early should I arrive to catch the light without a crowd of other photographers?
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We walked it at sunrise and the light was beautiful. The pedestrian path is narrow and you share it with motorbikes, so keep to the side and listen for them. The trains only came twice while we were up there, and you can hear them coming.
Replying to Janina Krawczyk
Thanks, that is reassuring. How often do the trains actually pass in the early morning?
Replying to Lieke VanLeeuwen
The trains are not that frequent early in the morning, we saw one pass around 6.30 and then nothing for a long while. Most of the time the bridge is quiet, just walkers and the odd motorbike, so you can take your photos in peace.
Replying to Janina Krawczyk
Thanks, that is useful. Did you stand on the pedestrian side the whole time, or is there a spot where you can see the bridge itself?
Replying to Lieke VanLeeuwen
We stayed on the pedestrian side the whole time, and there is a spot about halfway across where the bridge curves and you can see the whole structure behind you. Stand there in the early morning light and you get the bridge and the river in one frame.