Ho Chi Minh City’s commuters who depend on the Rach Chiec Bridge on Hanoi Highway for their morning commute have been spending their mornings baking in the hot sun due to serious congestion along the route.

Every morning, a sea of motorbikes and cars inches over the Rach Chiec Bridge in Thu Duc City toward the city center, enveloped in scorching heat and engine fumes.

This nightmarish daily commute has led to many motorcyclists riding on sidewalks and in automobile lanes out of desperation to shorten their commutes despite dangers from cars and tractor-trailers.

The nightmare does not end at the bridge though.

After descending from the Rach Chiec Bridge and into Thao Dien and An Phu Wards, a complicated network of roads, intersections, and bus stops adds further headaches to the morning rush hour.

“At peak hours, all it takes is a few cars and buses stopping to pick up passengers for the entire road to clog up,” said a local motorbike taxi driver.

P.D., a resident of Thu Duc City, blamed the situation on many intersections that cross Hanoi Highway, as well as the buses that use the shoulder as stops.

“Buses coming to and stopping at bus stops cause both congestion and traffic safety risks,” P.D. complained.

P.D. suggested that bus companies move their stops further from intersections and authorities allow motorcyclists to use car lanes during peak hours. 

Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has plans to rearrange traffic routes on multiple sections of the roads that run parallel to Hanoi Highway between the Rach Chiec Bridge and Thao Dien Ward, starting September 25.

Hanoi Highway is the main route connecting the center of Ho Chi Minh City with Thu Duc City in the eastern side and neighboring Dong Nai and Binh Duong Provinces. 

It was also designed to directly connect with Ho Chi Minh City’s first metro line, the Ben Thanh - Long Binh depot, the new Mien Dong Bus Terminal, and other ring roads in the area.

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