The last day of the Tet holiday in 2025 saw thousands of residents returning to Ho Chi Minh City’s eastern and western gateways to resume their daily lives. However, severe traffic congestion at Cat Lai Ferry and Tan Son Nhat Airport left many stranded for hours.
Situation at Cat Lai Ferry
Thousands of vehicles lined up at Cat Lai Ferry (Thu Duc City), one of the busiest traffic hotspots after the Tet holiday. Many families with children and heavy luggage had to wait over five hours but still couldn’t cross the ferry to enter the city.
To ease the congestion, ferry staff moved 1km away to sell tickets for cars. Despite increasing the number of ferries and boats, the overload was inevitable.
An exhausted child dozed off in his mother’s arms while waiting to cross the ferry. These images vividly illustrate the hardships faced by residents returning to Ho Chi Minh City after the long Tet holiday.
Tan Son Nhat Airport: Another Busy Hub
Tan Son Nhat Airport also witnessed an influx of passengers at the domestic terminal. People from various provinces gathered densely for check-in and baggage claim.
Statistics show that the airport handled approximately 150,512 passengers with 979 flights on the final day of the Tet holiday. This included more than 93,300 arrivals (65,877 domestic and 27,441 international).
Airport staff continuously brought baggage carts into the arrival area to meet passenger needs. Despite thorough preparations, the sudden surge in passengers caused temporary overcrowding.
Traffic Conditions at Western Gateways
At the western gateways, particularly along Highway 1A through Binh Chanh District, thousands of vehicles formed long queues. Mr. Tran Duc Tuan (34 years old, from Ben Tre) shared, “On normal days, it takes me 3 hours, but today’s heavy traffic extended my travel time significantly.”
Endless lines of people and vehicles created chaotic scenes on roads leading into the city center. This not only inconvenienced residents but also highlighted the need for better traffic management during holidays.
Conclusion
The traffic congestion at Ho Chi Minh City’s gateways after the 2025 Tet holiday clearly reflects the high demand for travel among residents. While authorities have implemented measures to alleviate the situation, further investment in infrastructure and optimization of public transportation systems remains essential to address this issue in the future.
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