One of the most beautiful wooden footbridges in Vietnam, the Thanh Toan covered bridge in Hue offers a memorable stopover in the heart of idyllic, verdant countryside. Hue, famous for its imperial splendour and majestic remains of the Nguyen dynasty, is also home to hidden treasures in its surrounding villages. Among these little-known gems, the village of Thanh Thuy Chanh stands out for its Thanh Toan covered bridge, one of the five most beautiful footbridges dotting the Vietnamese countryside.
Located 8 kilometres from the ancient imperial city of Hue, Thanh Thuy Chanh village (Thanh Thủy Chánh) exudes the authenticity and cultural heritage of the region. Crossed by the peaceful Nhu Y River, Thanh Thuy Chanh offers an idyllic panorama of the Vietnamese countryside, with bamboo, ancient banyan trees and lush green rice paddies.
Known for its ancient buildings and serene atmosphere, the place invites you to immerse yourself in the Vietnamese soul. In addition to the old pagodas, temples and communal houses, the village is home to numerous family cult temples, carefully maintained by the descendants of ancestral lineages. These places of remembrance, meticulously decorated in a palette of bright colours, offer a glimpse of the traditions and family values that punctuate the daily lives of the Hue. At the heart of the village, the Thanh Toan bridge across the Nhu Y river offers a haven of peace where villagers can relax.
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History of Thanh Toan covered bridge
Built in 1776 by Tran Thi Dao, the wife of a high-ranking official during the reign of King Le Hien Tong, the bridge was financed by her donations to the village. This made daily life easier for the villagers and provided a place to rest for passengers travelling from afar. The benefactress received a royal edict from the king congratulating her on her virtue and exempting the village from various taxes. Later in 1925, King Khai Dinh also issued an edict to honour her and had an altar erected on the bridge to pay tribute to her.
Like other famous bridges in existence, Thanh Toan Bridge is recognisable by its ‘thuong gia ha kieu’ style, which literally means ‘house above, bridge below’. This unique style features a wooden superstructure topped by a curved tile roof, evoking the image of an elongated house resting on a footbridge.
The bridge has seven wooden spans, with a central pavilion serving as a shrine to Dame Trân Thi Dao, the bridge’s benefactress. The other six pavilions, arranged symmetrically, each have two rows of wooden benches and railings, delimiting a ‘pedestrian lane’ in the centre and ‘rest areas’ on either side, giving the tiled bridge its charm and harmony.
While there are many architectural similarities with the Japanese bridge in Hoi An, which uses statues of dogs and monkeys for its decoration, the Thanh Toan bridge features dragons and phoenixes on the edges of the tiled roof. The gables are decorated with blue earthenware and the motifs are all based on the theme of ‘transformation into a dragon’.
The bridge rests on six limestone piers, circular in cross-section and connected by several beams. The abutments are built of ashlar. Over the nearly 250 years of its existence, the bridge has undergone several restorations, which have slightly reduced its size compared to its original construction. It is now over 16 metres long and almost 5 metres wide. The last major renovation took place in April 2020, preserving the integrity of its original structure and architecture.
A symbol of the soul of rural Hue
Take a stroll across the bridge and let the peaceful atmosphere transport you. Admire the breathtaking view of the green rice fields, the peaceful Nhu Y River and the lush green bamboo surrounding the village. Watch the locals go about their daily business, fishing, ploughing the fields… A moment of relaxation and connection with nature and the rural life of Hue that will stay with you for a long time.
Night market near Thanh Toan bridge
Since 2019, as part of the annual Hue Festival, Thuy Thanh commune has been organising a night market around the Thanh Toan covered bridge on the 16th lunar day of each month. In the friendly atmosphere of a rural market, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of cultural and artistic activities, including the ao dai (traditional Vietnamese tunic) parade, the Bai choi show (a kind of bingo game played to traditional music), dugout canoe races, folk games and local food tasting.
Located near the bridge, the Thanh Toan House of Farming Tools is an educational stop-off point for visitors wishing to immerse themselves in the traditions of Vietnamese rural life. Here you will discover a collection of antique tools and objects that illustrate the daily life of Vietnamese peasants in days gone by. The exhibits include wooden ploughs, buffalo harrows, rice harvesting and threshing tools, cooking and preserving utensils, and much more. Each object tells a story, the story of daily labour punctuated by the seasons and the cycles of nature.
More than just an exhibition, the site offers a unique interactive experience. Live demonstrations allow you to see how traditional tools are used, while workshops invite you to take part in activities such as rice milling, grain winnowing or conical hat making.
If you have time, you can also spend a day in the village of Thanh Thuy Chanh like a real farmer. You can paddle down the Nhu Y river to fish, plant and harvest organic vegetables… alongside the villagers.
Famous historic covered bridges in Vietnam
As well as the Thanh Toan bridge in Hue, Vietnam has many other well-known and little-known gems that are well worth a visit. Discover other covered bridges steeped in history and beauty in Hoi An, Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh!
Japanese bridge in Hoi An
Everyone knows this emblem of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This magnificent bridge captivates with its unique architecture combining Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese influences.
Phat Diem covered bridge, Ninh Binh
Built in 1902, this charming wooden bridge crossing the Ân River in Phat Diem, Kim Son is recognised as Ninh Binh’s historical and cultural heritage.
Thuong market covered bridge, Nam Dinh
Known as the Thuong Nong covered bridge, it spans the Ngoc River (Nam Truc district, Nam Dinh province, 86km from Hanoi). Dating from the 18th century under the later Lê dynasty, it is classified as a national historic and cultural monument.
Luong pagoda covered bridge, Nam Dinh
Another treasure of Nam Dinh and undoubtedly the oldest covered bridge in Vietnam, the Luong pagoda covered bridge (Hai Hau district) has over 500 years of history.
Around Hue, there are many traditional villages that perpetuate ancestral skills. Follow us to discover these authentic villages and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of local craftsmen in the editorial below:
