Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images A 2,000-foot-long glass-bottomed bridge that recently opened in Vietnam has been certified the longest of its kind in the world.Bach Long, the pedestrian bridge, has three layers of 40 mm of tempered glass, a report says.Beneath it is a 500-foot plummet to a valley below.Take a look at a daredevil’s next fascination.If you’re afraid of heights, the Bach Long bridge probably won’t be your thing.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images But for thrill seekers, the destination is a welcome addition to a bucket list.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images The glass pedestrian bridge opened at the end of April.
Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images It’s located in the Moc Chau district of Vietnam’s northwestern Son La province.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images Bach Long translates to “white dragon.” Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images The bridge measures 632 meters, or about 2,073 feet, in length.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images The company behind it says it’s the longest glass-bottomed bridge in the world.
Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images And the folks at Guinness World Records agree: Officials visited the bridge in late May and confirmed it’s the longest of its kind in the world.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images Source: Talk Vietnam
The bridge stands 150 meters, or about 492 feet, above a lush valley between two mountains.
Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images The daredevils who cross the bridge do so on three layers of 40 mm, or about 1.5 inches, of tempered glass.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images Source: South China Morning Post
Despite the thin nature of the glass, Bach Long can support about 500 people at a time, said Hoang Manh Duy, a representative of Moc Chau.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images Source: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism
The company behind Bach Long said it put the bridge to the test by having heavy cars and trucks drive over it.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images Source: South China Morning Post
As an additional safety measure, traffic on the bridge flows in only one direction.
Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images Source: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism
When the bridge opened, its first visitors had mixed reactions.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images Some were thrilled.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images Many posed for photos to capture the surreal experience.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images “I think it’s all great,” one visitor told Al Jazeera.”Stepping on the bridge and looking down was scary at first, but if we continued confidently, it was very amazing.” The visitor who shared these remarks is not pictured here.
Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images Source: Al Jazeera
Others felt differently about the bridge.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images This child had perhaps the most relatable reaction.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images Unveiling the bridge is one way Vietnam is trying to bring back tourism after the industry came to a standstill for much of the past two years because of COVID-19.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images The country closed its borders to travelers in March 2020 and stopped issuances of tourist visas.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images Around the start of the pandemic, Vietnam’s tourism department estimated that COVID-19 could cost the country $4 billion in lost tourism in three months.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images Source: Insider
The country reopened its borders to international tourists this March, dropping its COVID-19 restrictions for foreign visitors.Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images That means adventure seekers from around the world can now behold the beauty — or terror — that is the Bach Long bridge.
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