The western gateway of Ho Chi Minh City was congested for hours.

The influx of people leaving the city to return to the Mekong Delta provinces for Tet holiday increased, causing congestion on National Highway 1 and 50 at the western gateway from morning to noon on February 4 (December 25).

After 8am, National Highway 1 through Binh Chanh district began to be crowded with traffic, mostly passenger cars and motorbikes from the inner city moving to the West. On the nearly 10km stretch from An Lac roundabout to the border of Long An province, the traffic density was dense. Traffic jams appeared at Binh Dien bridge and many large intersections between the national highway and Duong Dinh Cuc, Nguyen Huu Tri streets... when the number of vehicles continued to pile up. Cars and motorbikes lined up closely, inching forward.

Vehicles lined up on National Highway 1, Binh Chanh District, heading to the West, on the morning of February 4. Photo: Ha Giang — Vehicles lined up on National Highway 1, Binh Chanh District, heading to the West, on the morning of February 4. Photo: *Ha Giang*

At major intersections, traffic police are on duty to regulate traffic, and traffic signals also prioritize green light duration for vehicles going straight on Highway 1 to limit congestion. However, the sudden and continuous increase in vehicle density from the inner city and Mien Tay bus station has caused traffic in the above area to remain tense. Many sections of congestion last from morning to noon, making many people tired on their journey home for Tet.

"I took my wife and young child home at 6am, but it was almost 9am before I got to Long An due to traffic jams. It was very difficult," said Nguyen Danh, from Dong Thap. Compared to previous years, this year during Tet the weather was hotter, making the journey home more difficult for his family.

At another gateway to the West, congestion also occurred in many sections on National Highway 50, Binh Chanh District. In addition to the flow of vehicles returning to their hometowns for Tet, the density of vehicles on this route increased because this morning people gathered to visit graves at Da Phuoc Cemetery. National Highway 50 through the above area is also the route leading to the Da Phuoc waste treatment complex with a dense traffic of garbage trucks, causing congestion in many sections such as the intersection with Trinh Quang Nghi Street, Nguyen Van Linh Street and in front of Nguyen Van Cu Bookstore...

Vehicles lined up on Highway 50, Binh Chanh District, morning of February 4. Photo: Ha Giang — Vehicles lined up on Highway 50, Binh Chanh District, morning of February 4. Photo: *Ha Giang*

At Mien Tay bus station, Binh Tan district, the number of passengers passing through the station today also began to increase, with about 40,000 people, an increase of nearly 50% compared to normal days. At the three main gates of the bus station, since morning, cars and motorbikes carrying luggage and belongings have been lining up to go in and out. Inside, many ticket counters of bus companies selling routes to Can Tho, An Giang, Tra Vinh ... are bustling with customers asking to buy. Security forces have been increased to regulate traffic and maintain order due to the increase in passengers.

According to the plan for Tet travel at the station, the total number of passengers passing through this place is expected to be 782,000 people, an increase of about 29% compared to the same period last year. In particular, due to the characteristics of the short journey to the Western provinces, the days before Tet, from December 27 to 29, are expected to be the peak time at the Western station, with more than 60,000 people per day.

Currently, the station and transport companies have prepared plans to increase the number of vehicles from low-traffic routes to high-traffic routes to meet travel demand. In addition, buses are also arranged to this place to relieve passengers if the travel situation suddenly increases.

Dinh Van - Ha Giang

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