During the first six days of the nine-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, traffic accidents across Vietnam resulted in 137 fatalities – a significant year-on-year drop of 42.44 percent, according to the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security.

These fatalities were caused by 308 traffic accidents nationwide, primarily occurring on roads.

The incidents also left 257 people injured, the department reported on Thursday. 

Compared to the same period last year, the number of accidents and injuries saw substantial declines of approximately 38.3 percent and 39.39 percent, respectively.

This improvement coincides with the enforcement of Government Decree 168, which came into effect earlier this year. The decree imposes stricter penalties for traffic violations, aiming to deter unsafe behaviors and reduce casualties.

During the period, authorities handled 37,868 traffic violations, impounded over 13,200 vehicles, revoked 2,017 driver’s licenses, and deducted points from 4,105 licenses. 

Among the offenders, 10,138 drivers were caught driving under the influence of alcohol, 9,128 exceeded speed limits, and 309 carried excessive numbers of passengers.

On Thursday, the sixth day of the nine-day Tet holiday, several gateway areas in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City saw heavy congestion as people traveled for Tet celebrations.

In Ho Chi Minh City, severe traffic jam was reported at the An Phu intersection – where the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway begins – and Mai Chi Tho Street in Thu Duc City, a district-level administrative unit of Ho Chi Minh City. 

Meanwhile, in Hanoi, long lines of vehicles formed early in the morning on Belt Road No. 3, leading to the Phap Van-Cau Gie expressway and the Hanoi-Hai Phong Highway.

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