Acầu khỉ ("monkey bridge") in Vietnam is a handmadebamboo or wooden passway across a stream or gully.[1][2] The "monkey bridge", as a uniquely Vietnamese traditional symbol, was the inspiration for the title of American authorLan Cao's novelMonkey Bridge.[3]
It is also called a coconut bridge (if made of coconut tree) or bamboo bridge (if made of bamboo). These bridges, with or without handrails, are very difficult and dangerous for those who are not accustomed to them. Those familiar with them have been known to carry on their shoulder 20–50 kg while on the bridge.
This type of bridge is also very popular in theMekong Delta, because there is a system of streams.In coastal areas of theRed River Delta in northern Vietnam, such as Giao Thủy, Hải Hậu, ... (Nam Định Province) or Tiền Hải (Thái Bình Province) there are also footbridges, mainly for passersby to take care of rice in the fields. Before 1960, footbridges were also very popular in northern Vietnam. They would naturally follow the path of foot traffic, the bridges wading out of the water stream.
Cầu khỉ are one of the old cultural signs in Vietnam. Now in industrialized regions sometimes there is a "Competition on passing Cầu khỉ by bicycle" for remembering the taste of footbridges.
Such a competition took place inCửa Lò town,Nghệ An Province in March 2016.[4] and inBến Tre Province in 2017.[5]
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