Bridging nations: This year marks the 15th anniversary of the opening of the My Thuan Bridge. — Photo panoramio.com

HCM CITY (VNS) — The Australian Consulate General in HCM City has launched a photo competition celebrating the My Thuan Bridge and its benefits to Mekong Delta communities over the past 15 years.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the opening of the bridge, an architectural symbol of friendship and cooperation between the peoples and governments of Australia and Viet Nam.

In March 2000, the My Thuan Bridge, the first cable-stayed bridge in Viet Nam, was completed within budget and under time, achieving international standards of quality.

Together with a safety record that surpassed achievements even in developed countries, the project set a benchmark for infrastructure construction in Viet Nam.

The photo competition encourages people living in southern Viet Nam, particularly those in provinces around the bridge, to submit photos and captions explaining what the bridge means to them, their family or friends, or the wider community.

The best photos will win prizes including a digital SLR camera and an Ipad mini.

The competition will run on the Australia on Viet Nam Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AustralianEmbassyVietnam until November 1.

The bridge connects rural communities to commercial centres, allowing for faster access and more effective transportation of goods, services and people.

Just a year after the bridge was put into use, the income of people living on both sides of the river increased by 30 per cent. The bridge serves more than 5 million vehicles each year.

The construction of the My Thuan Bridge also facilitated the transfer of Australian skills and knowledge in modern bridge design and construction technology to the Vietnamese people, according to a press release from the Australian Consulate. — VNS