The last working day before the 2025 Lunar New Year holiday witnessed severe traffic congestion at major gateways of Ho Chi Minh City and around Tan Son Nhat Airport. Thousands of residents from the city and neighboring provinces traveled to their hometowns for the Tet holiday, causing major roads to become gridlocked for hours.
Eastern Gateway: A Major Traffic Hotspot
On the afternoon of January 24, the eastern gateway of Ho Chi Minh City, especially Mai Chi Tho Road leading to Cat Lai Port toward Vung Tau and Dong Nai, became a major traffic hotspot with jams stretching over 3 kilometers. Many families carried bulky luggage, while children appeared exhausted during long journeys back home.
Tung Lam (36 years old, from Vung Tau), a motorist traveling on this route, shared: “I requested leave two hours early to avoid traffic, but it still took nearly 30 minutes just to pass An Phu Intersection.” Long lines of cars waited to move, while motorcycles weaved through lanes in an attempt to escape the heavy congestion.
Tan Son Nhat Airport: Peak Traffic Gridlock
From around 4 PM, the number of vehicles heading to Tan Son Nhat Airport surged dramatically, causing severe congestion on major roads like Pham Van Dong Street and the Lang Cha Ca flyover area. Inside the domestic terminal, thousands of passengers queued for check-in. Automated kiosks were fully occupied, while many travelers who arrived early had to wait for hours.
Western Gateway: National Highway 1A Overwhelmed
Not only the eastern gateway, but the western gateway of Ho Chi Minh City also faced similar issues. National Highway 1A, passing through Binh Chanh District toward the Mekong Delta, was overwhelmed with vehicles in the late afternoon. Particularly, Le Kha Phieu Road, from An Lac Roundabout (Binh Tan District) to Binh Dien Bridge (Binh Chanh District), became a recurring traffic hotspot during the Tet season.
Tien, a resident returning to the Mekong Delta, said: “Every year, I try to return early to avoid traffic, but this year work delayed my plans. I just hope to reach home soon to celebrate Tet with my family, even if it takes until late at night.”
Conclusion
The traffic congestion at Ho Chi Minh City’s gateways and Tan Son Nhat Airport on the eve of the Lunar New Year reflects the high demand for travel among residents before the holiday. To ease traffic pressure, authorities need better organization and regulation plans during major holidays. For residents, planning trips earlier and choosing optimal departure times can help minimize traffic jams and ensure smoother journeys home.
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