Journey of the country through century-old constructions

TRANSFORMATION STEP

Vietnam has more than 2,360 rivers with a minimum length of over 10 km, with many large rivers spanning three regions. Before 1993, if it was not a steel bridge (Long Bien bridge, Thang Long bridge...), construction technology only stopped at I-beam concrete structure, with a limited navigation span of about 33 m while the need to build a bridge with a span larger than 100 m was very urgent...

Phu Luong, the first bridge using cantilever prestressed concrete technology in Vietnam

VSL engineers are lifting the 5,300-ton roof system at Long Thanh airport.

Cantilever installation technique helps reduce construction and installation time, and is one of the development directions of the road and bridge industry in the coming time.

In 1993, the Vietnamese transport sector started construction of the Phu Luong road bridge (National Highway 5, Hai Duong), spanning the Thai Binh River. At that time, this was a key transport infrastructure project, applying a completely new technique - large-span cantilever prestressed concrete technology, co-constructed and transferred by VSL Company (Switzerland).

Since the Phu Luong bridge project, the Traffic Construction Corporation 1 (Cienco1) - the unit that received the transfer of prestressed concrete cantilever technology from VSL experts - has mastered this technology to apply to other bridges across the country such as Quan Hau, Hoang Long, Tan De... Not only cantilever bridge projects, other modern technologies such as reinforced earth retaining walls have been deployed in series, helping to reduce costs, improve quality and progress in urban traffic projects and bridge access roads.

MASTERING TECHNOLOGY

Since 2001, projects of international scale and stature began to emerge: Can Tho Bridge, Thu Thiem Tunnel across Saigon River, Bai Chay Bridge, Thanh Tri Bridge, Tan Son Nhat International Terminal... and especially the Rach Mieu cable-stayed bridge project.

Panorama of Bai Chay Bridge

The beauty of Nguyen Hoang bridge, the traffic route connecting Phu Xuan and Thuan Hoa (Hue City)

The majestic beauty of Bach Dang, the largest cable-stayed bridge in Vietnam

Bach Dang suspension bridge in the days of completion

Recalling the story of the construction of Rach Mieu Bridge, the budget at that time was in a difficult period, but the transport sector was determined to carry it out, choosing a reliable partner, VSL, to accompany and, more importantly, transfer cable-stayed bridge technology to Vietnam. Mr. Ngo Thinh Duc, Chairman of the Vietnam Bridge and Road Science and Technology Association, former Deputy Minister of Transport, said: "When building Rach Mieu Bridge, every month at the construction site, I held a meeting with the leaders of Ben Tre and Tien Giang provinces, I always mentioned that VSL is not only a partner, but also a member of the Vietnamese transport sector".

After Rach Mieu Bridge, a series of other cable-stayed bridges were completed. According to Mr. Tran Duc Lan, General Director of VSL Vietnam Company: "In the process of construction and technology transfer, VSL always brings the world's leading techniques and is ready to transfer them to the team of Vietnamese engineers and experts. Since Rach Mieu, Vietnamese bridge and road engineers have gradually received and mastered the technology of designing and constructing cable-stayed bridges, implementing a series of other large cable-stayed bridge projects such as Bach Dang Bridge, My Thuan 2 Bridge, Rach Mieu 2...".

REACH OUT

Commenting on the story of infrastructure development in Vietnam, Mr. Tran Duc Lan said: "Vietnam's construction and transportation industry is facing a great opportunity to access advanced technology for highway, urban railway , high-speed railway, airport terminal projects... Vietnam can completely master the world's advanced technology with well-trained human resources, highly skilled technical workers and reliable partners and transfer."

Entrance to Thu Thiem tunnel, District 1, HCMC

Rach Mieu Bridge 2

Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien railway line uses cantilever installation technique for rails

Phu My - the first and largest cable-stayed bridge in Ho Chi Minh City, completed in 2009

PHOTO: TL

One of the key projects that will be put into use in Ho Chi Minh City in early 2025 is the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line, with the cooperation of VSL with cantilever installation technique, which is very suitable for elevated railway lines and metro lines running in urban areas through densely populated residential areas. The girder segments are produced at the casting yard, transported to the construction site, lifted and assembled into girder spans at an average progress of 3 days per span.

Beam segments can be transported overhead, on completed beam spans, ensuring uninterrupted transportation and no impact on traffic below, saving construction time... The trend of developing casting and cantilever technology is an inevitable trend, widely chosen for urban traffic projects and ring roads in major cities in the coming time.

One of the typical projects that cannot be ignored and is being accelerated in construction progress is the Long Thanh airport project (Dong Nai), applying the technology of lifting a record steel roof truss weighing 5,300 tons, nearly 2 hectares wide, with wings extending up to 41 m, using a record hydraulic jack system. The roof truss is assembled and completed below and lifted according to the balance principle to a height of 30 m above the ground. The successful application of this complex roof lifting construction technology helps reduce construction time, complete the installation of the roofing system before the rainy season, improve safety and limit risks and errors in the welding and installation process of the project's massive main roof truss system.

The growth and maturity of the team of engineers and skilled workers in the transportation and construction industry through each project conquering complex techniques, working together with the world's leading trusted technology partners, is bringing Vietnam into a period of acceleration and breakthrough, welcoming more world-class projects, bringing pride to today and tomorrow.