Widespread traffic jams continued to plague many parts of Ho Chi Minh City beyond peak hours, with major routes, city center streets, and airport access points being heavily congested on Friday evening.

From 5:00 pm, congestion spread across most streets and alleys, particularly in areas such as the city center, the gateway to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, routes to the Cat Lai Ferry, and National Highway 1.

At the busy My Thuy Roundabout in Thu Duc City, vehicles heading from Dong Van Cong Street to Cat Lai Ferry were backed up, with long lines of tractor trailers and buses clogging the overpass and underpass. 

This gridlock extended to Vo Chi Cong Street and the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway, causing vehicles to crawl.

The Tan Son Nhat airport vicinity saw heavy congestion early in the day, with traffic on Bach Dang Street slowing to a crawl.

Vehicles crawl near Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

Similarly, Nguyen Van Troi, Phan Dinh Phung, and Phan Dang Luu streets experienced jams near key intersections.

Motorcyclists, in a bid to escape the jams, resorted to pushing their vehicles onto sidewalks to bypass long queues.

By 7:00 pm the same day, widespread traffic snarl-ups continued to grip major roads and intersections in the city, despite being past rush hour.

The municipal Department of Transport attributed the recent surge in traffic to heightened travel demand ahead of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), combined with temporary road closures for festivals and events.

Increased traffic flow, up by 11 percent in the days leading to Tet, worsened the situation at key downtown intersections.

The department noted improvements in traffic violations, such as running red lights and driving on sidewalks, since the implementation of the central government’s Decree 168, which imposes heftier penalties for bad driving habits. 

However, the close proximity of intersections in the city center has made it challenging to manage traffic efficiently, causing vehicles to back up at red lights.

Authorities are collaborating to better organize traffic at key junctions, city gateways, and around the airport. 

Plans are underway to add dedicated lanes and right-turn signals to alleviate pressure on major roads.

Below are some photos showing heavy traffic congestion across Ho Chi Minh City on the evening of January 17, 2025:

Motorcycles crowd onto Nguyen Van Troi Street. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

Riders push their motorcycles along sidewalks to escape traffic jams. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Riders push their motorcycles along sidewalks to escape traffic jams. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Congestion on Bach Dang Street toward Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

Traffic police at an intersection help manage the flow. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Motorcycles weave through gaps in the gridlock. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

By 7:00 pm, traffic on Phan Dinh Phung Street remains heavy. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

An aerial view shows kilometers of congestion stretching toward Phu Nhuan District. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

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