Holiday Ends, Major Vietnamese Cities Face Gridlock

On the final day of Vietnam's National Day holiday on September 2, massive traffic jams occurred at the main entry points to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as many people returned from their hometowns and tourist destinations. Significant congestion, stretching for kilometers, was reported on major highways and ferry terminals, stranding numerous drivers and passengers. In Hanoi, around 4 PM, a traffic jam of approximately 5 kilometers formed in the eastern gateway section of the Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway. This route is a crucial artery connecting Hanoi with Hung Yen, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh provinces. Some drivers entered the emergency lane but were warned and cautioned about potential fines by the authorities. Not only the expressway but also the surrounding service roads were filled with vehicles heading towards central Hanoi. In contrast, areas around Nhat Tan Bridge, the northern gateway, and Vo Chi Cong Street remained relatively clear. Similar situations were observed in Ho Chi Minh City. Starting around 4 PM, an increase in returnees from the Mekong Delta led to congestion on parts of National Highway 1 in Binh Chanh District (formerly Binh Chanh Commune). At the intersection of National Highway 1 and Bui Thanh Khiet Street, vehicles were packed tightly for about 2 kilometers, with cars and buses heading to the Mien Tay Bus Station (formerly Binh Tan Ward) forming long queues. Many motorbikes weaved through the traffic to return to the city quickly. At the Cat Lai ferry terminal, congestion began around 3 PM, with a queue of over 2 kilometers on Ly Thai To Street in Dong Nai Province, as people returned to Ho Chi Minh City from Vung Tau and Dong Nai. A representative from the ferry management stated that approximately 48,000 passengers were expected to use the ferry that day, an increase of about 10,000 compared to a normal day. Around 2,200 cars passed through, but due to their larger footprint, they had to be regulated in batches, leading to extended waiting times. One passenger mentioned that despite departing early, the journey took nearly double the usual time. Furthermore, traffic volume on the Trung Luong-My Thuan Expressway and Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway began to surge around 4 PM. On the Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway, several sections near the Than Cuu Nghia toll station, the National Highway 62 exit, and the Thu Thua rest stop experienced traffic jams extending for many kilometers. Some coaches and trucks entered the emergency lane in the area of overpass number 4 in Thu Thua Commune, with vehicles lined up ahead towards the Chau Thanh rest stop. These traffic jams highlight the interplay between Vietnam's active mobility driven by economic growth and the lagging infrastructure development. The phenomenon of significantly difficult access to urban areas, exacerbated by the convergence of holiday return traffic and the usual rush hour, is recurring.