The 100-year-old Thang Long Bridge is always crowded, not only with vehicles but with young people, many of whom are absorbed in posing for photos and oblivious to the danger nearby.

Thang Long Bridge.

The most popular spot for photo-taking is the railway in the middle of the bridge.

“Standing on the railway, you can capture scenes of green cornfields on one side, and on the other, the image of the modern Chuong Duong Bridge,” says Thu Hang, a student from the Foreign Trade University.

“The bridge’s iron structure adds a special quality to your photo. Posing there, you can shoot very emotional photos,” she adds.

But with reward there is often risk: The bridge is very narrow and there’s little parking room for motorbikes or bicycles.

Many of the youth, who often have to climb over high fences to sneak onto the railroad, admit they are sometimes afraid.

“Well, posing on the Thang Long Bridge makes my hair stand on end,” says Hai Ha, a student of the Ha Noi University of Technology. “You’re exposed to the threat of not only a sudden train, but also a shocking height as you look down toward the river.”

Luu Van Hung, a railway official in charge of the bridge, says the activity is “really dangerous” and advises young people to not “risk their life for a few stunning photos”.

But despite warnings and the obvious danger, more and more Hanoians, including young wedding couples, still flock to the scenic bridge for beautiful shots.

VietNamNet/VNS