As Vietnam’s traditional Tet, or Lunar New Year holiday, has ended, an increasing number of people have been rushing back to Ho Chi Minh City to resume their regular livelihoods.

Tens of thousands of residents in the Mekong Delta have headed back to the southern metropolis to continue their work and study since Wednesday, the fifth day of the new lunar year, according to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters.

The 2020 Lunar New Year fell on January 25, with preparation and celebration taking place one week before and after the date.

National Highway 1, an arterial road connecting the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City, became crowded after 2:00 pm on Wednesday, with traffic jams occurring at such hotspots as Ruou Bridge and Sao Bridge in Tien Giang Province.

A similar situation also happened on National Highway 60.

The congestion at Rach Mieu Bridge, which links Tien Giang and Ben Tre Provinces in the Mekong Delta, was so serious that a tollgate had to swing its boom barriers open twice on Wednesday evening to alleviate the issue.

Traffic police officers were also mobilized to stop commuters from traveling in the wrong lane as well as dealing with other traffic violations that could worsen the gridlock.  

In Ho Chi Minh City, congestion was less severe at major bus stations, ferry stations, and Tan Son Nhat International Airport thanks to the preparations of the municipal Department of Transport and traffic police units.

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