Today, February 2nd (the 5th day of the Lunar New Year), the Traffic Police Department of Binh Thuan province announced that after the Lunar New Year holiday, people from the central provinces and cities are beginning to return to the southern region for study and work, leading to an increase in the number of vehicles traveling through the area, especially on the expressway.

Traffic police forces throughout the province are increasing their personnel to manage and regulate traffic 24/7, preventing congestion at major gateways and ensuring safe and smooth traffic flow for the public.

People flock back to Ho Chi Minh City after Tet, traffic police work hard to combat highway congestion..jpg
Vehicles line up at the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressway exit to reach National Highway 1, the section passing through Ham Kiem commune, Ham Thuan Nam district. Photo: Duong Long

Observations at the intersection of the access road to the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressway (Km1717+593 National Highway 1) in Ham Kiem commune, Ham Thuan Nam district, show that since early this morning, the large volume of vehicles from the central provinces and tourists traveling from Phan Thiet city back to Ho Chi Minh City entering the Ba Bau interchange to access the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressway has caused congestion.

In response to this situation, traffic police closed the entrance and directed all vehicles to continue moving on National Highway 1, helping to stabilize traffic flow on the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay Expressway and the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet Expressway, preventing congestion.

People flock back to Ho Chi Minh City after Tet, traffic police work hard to combat highway congestion.
Traffic police in Binh Thuan province temporarily closed the access road to the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressway, directing vehicles to continue moving on National Highway 1. Photo: Duong Long

Meanwhile, at intersections and on main roads through the area, vehicles were seen queuing in long lines, making it difficult to move through the area.

Traveling on National Highway 1, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Quang (residing in Tien Giang province) said that his family had come to Phan Thiet city for a vacation and had to return home this morning to rest and prepare for work on the first day of the new year. Due to the heavy traffic, they could only travel at a speed of 30-40 km/h.

People flock back to Ho Chi Minh City after Tet, traffic police work hard to combat highway congestion...jpg
Traffic volume on the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressway this morning was relatively stable. Photo: Duong Long

Representatives from the Traffic Police Department of Binh Thuan province stated that, until the end of February 2nd, traffic volume on both the expressway and National Highway 1 sections passing through the province is expected to continue to increase significantly. Therefore, the traffic police will continue to mobilize maximum resources to regulate and reroute traffic to facilitate convenient travel for the public.

The Traffic Police Department of Binh Thuan province advises people traveling during these days to proactively plan their time and routes, avoiding peak hours on major gateway routes.

Drivers must comply with traffic laws, refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol, and avoid speeding and reckless overtaking. When detecting traffic safety violations, citizens can send photos and video clips to the Zalo page “Binh Thuan Traffic Police Department” or call the hotline number 069.3428121 to report them.

Traffic jam at the entrance to the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressway: Ambulance driver gets out of vehicle and asks for right of way. The influx of vehicles from central provinces into Ho Chi Minh City caused a traffic jam at the entrance to the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressway, forcing the ambulance driver to leave the driver's seat and ask for the right of way.