The final day of the Lunar New Year holiday saw thousands of people returning to Hanoi from various provinces, causing severe traffic congestion on major entry routes. The situation showed a significant increase in crowds and traffic pressure.
Traffic Situation at Major Bus Stations
At Giap Bat Bus Station in Hoang Mai District, from early afternoon, passengers from provinces like Ninh Binh, Ha Nam, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and Thanh Hoa began arriving with heavy luggage. However, observations show that the number of passengers is not as high as in previous years. A staff member at the station attributed this to the rapid growth of shuttle and carpool services following the pandemic.
Minh Phuong, a passenger from Thanh Hoa, shared that her bus trip from Thanh Xuan District to Giap Bat Bus Station took 5 hours instead of the usual 3 hours and 20 minutes. “Traffic jams and the large number of vehicles extended our travel time,” Phuong said.
Traffic Pressure on Main Routes
Motorcycles move onto sidewalks to avoid traffic jams on Ngoc Hoi Street
As the afternoon progressed, the volume of vehicles heading into central Hanoi increased significantly. Major routes such as National Highway 1A, Duong Giai Phong, Ngoc Hoi, and the Phap Van – Cau Gie expressway experienced severe congestion. Particularly, the stretch leading from the Phap Van – Cau Gie expressway to the Vien Dai 3 elevated road saw a long line of cars stretching about 3km.
Traffic authorities worked tirelessly to manage traffic at hotspots. Many motorcyclists appeared exhausted while waiting through multiple red lights or even climbed onto sidewalks to avoid being stuck in traffic.
Forecast and Recommendations
Long queues of vehicles on Vien Dai 3 elevated road
According to plans, tomorrow (February 3rd), workers across the country will resume work after the Tet holiday. Therefore, today is expected to be the peak day for people returning to Hanoi from other provinces. This places significant pressure on the urban transportation system.
Transport experts recommend that residents should plan their trips early and avoid peak hours. Additionally, they should follow instructions from traffic authorities to minimize congestion and ensure safety.
Conclusion
The influx of people returning to Hanoi after the Tet holiday poses a significant challenge to the city’s transportation infrastructure. To improve the situation, close cooperation between management agencies and residents in organizing and regulating traffic is essential. Proper planning and choosing appropriate travel times can help avoid unnecessary inconveniences.
Source: Dan Tri
