Long Bien Bridge was built in 1903 by the architects of Dayde & Pille; a French company. It is a historic cantilever bridge that spans the Red River; some 2.5 km in length. From 1899 to 1902; more than 3;000 Vietnamese took part in the construction. Before Vietnam's independence in 1954; it was called the Doumer Bridge after Paul Doumer; the Governor-General of French Indochina and then French president. Defence of the bridge played a major role in the Vietnam War against the United States; as the bridge provided the only secure connection to the port of Haiphong. It was heavily bombarded and was rendered unusable for a year when; in May 1972; it fell victim to one of the first coordinated attacks using laser-guided 'smart bombs'. The defense of Long Bien Bridge continues to play a large role in Hanoi's self-image and is often extolled in poetry and song.