With his usual route blocked for the National Day celebrations, The Anh, 28, who lives in Ngoc Ha and works 15 km away in Ha Dong, spent half a day figuring out a new commute. His initial plan to leave work early at 4 p.m. to avoid the closures was thwarted when the road closure schedule was moved up to 11:30 a.m. on August 21st.

He eventually settled on a three-part commute. On the morning of August 21st, he took a ride-hailing service to the Cat Linh metro station, then rode the elevated train to Phung Khoang station, and finally got a ride from a colleague to his office, two kilometers away. For his return trip, he took the metro back to Cat Linh station and walked home via Giang Vo - Nguyen Thai Hoc - Kim Ma - Doi Can streets.

This solution, while time-consuming, allowed him to avoid traffic and overnight parking fees. His commute increased nearly fourfold, from about 30 minutes to almost two hours, due to waiting for the train and walking. "A military parade only happens every 10 years, so a little inconvenience is fine. It's an experience," The Anh said.

He also shared his commuting strategy with friends and colleagues, discovering new routes in the process.

Ngoc Ha Street at 11:15 a.m. on 21/8, 15 minutes before the road closure began. Photo: C.S

Ngoc Ha Street at 11:15 a.m. on 21/8, 15 minutes before the road closure began. Photo: C.S

Tuan Kiet, 25, a Thuy Khue resident, chose to leave four hours early for a 2 p.m. meeting on Hang Than street. "I left early to enjoy a leisurely lunch and admire the decorated streets instead of rushing and risking being late," Kiet explained.

He opted for his motorbike due to its flexibility, the lack of metro access to his destination, and concerns about unpredictable bus route changes. In the afternoon, with main roads closed, he navigated from Hang Than street to the smaller Hong Ha street, parallel to Ring Road 1, then continued towards Au Co - Lac Long Quan streets to reach Thuy Khue. He parked at an apartment building about 300 meters from his home and walked the rest of the way.

"The route was longer than usual, but it was a pleasant experience to travel under flag-lined streets and hear revolutionary songs from the neighborhood loudspeakers," Kiet shared.

Many residents opted for the elevated train to avoid traffic and easily reach the streets to watch the parade rehearsal on the evening of 21/8. Photo: Quynh Nguyen

Many residents opted for the elevated train to avoid traffic and easily reach the streets to watch the parade rehearsal on the evening of 21/8. Photo: Quynh Nguyen

The experiences of The Anh and Tuan Kiet reflect the reality for many Hanoi residents during the National Day celebrations. On social media, the topic "finding a way to work during the National Day holiday" has attracted thousands of interactions. People are sharing tips on combining the metro, buses, ride-hailing services, and walking to navigate the closures.

Some companies allowed employees to work remotely, and students had time off during rehearsals to minimize disruption caused by the traffic restrictions.

Ride-hailing drivers also adapted their operations. Nguyen The Thuat explained that he only accepted rides on the outskirts of the city center after the 11:30 a.m. road closures. "Demand for rides into the center skyrockets, but we don't dare accept them for fear of not being able to reach the exact destination, as maps aren't updated with the closures. If we take passengers near the restricted area, we usually inform them in advance so they can walk the remaining distance," he said.

Crowds gathered at Ba Dinh Square from noon on 21/8, queuing to watch the parade rehearsal that evening. Photo: Pham Du

Crowds gathered at Ba Dinh Square from noon on 21/8, queuing to watch the parade rehearsal that evening. Photo: Pham Du

For the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on 2/9, approximately 100 streets in Hanoi, mainly within Ring Road 3, are closed, temporarily closed, or have restricted vehicle access during various timeframes from 21/8 to 2/9.

Hanoi police advise residents to prioritize public transport, especially the two metro lines: Line 2A Cat Linh - Ha Dong and Line 3 Nhon - Hanoi Railway Station. People are also encouraged to walk on certain closed streets in the central districts and follow instructions from authorities.

To accommodate travel needs, Hanoi Metro announced extended operating hours for both metro lines until midnight during the rehearsals and the official ceremony, with trains running every 6-10 minutes. Transerco (Hanoi Transport Corporation) also published adjusted bus routes for affected lines.

Anh Thu, 26, opted to stay at his workplace because all routes from his home on Vo Chi Cong street to his office on Nguyen Thai Hoc street are affected by the closures. "Normally, my commute takes about 45 minutes. With the road closures, I chose to stay at work to save time and energy, and I also get to watch the parade rehearsal," Thu said.

Quynh Nga