From 4 PM on 1/9, a heavy flow of vehicles converged on Ho Chi Minh City from Dong Nai, Phan Thiet, and Vung Tau via the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway. This resulted in prolonged congestion across several sections of the route. Specifically, near Long Thanh Bridge in Dong Nai and extending to the Long Phuoc toll booth, the high volume of traffic led to a backup of approximately 3 km.

Traffic congestion stretched over 2 km on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway, heading from Dong Nai towards HCMC, on the afternoon of 1/9. Photo: Ho Dinh

Vehicles were forced to inch forward. As evening approached, the increasing number of vehicles necessitated authorities to intermittently close and open the entrance from National Highway 51, directing drivers to National Highway 1 to alleviate pressure on the expressway.

At the western gateway, a significant influx of cars returning to HCMC also caused traffic disruptions. To manage this, Traffic Patrol and Control Team No. 7 of the Department of Traffic Police deployed specialized motorcycles. These officers opened an emergency lane for about 40 km on certain sections of the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway, guiding vehicles from the Than Cuu Nghia toll booth in Chau Thanh commune to the Cho Dem toll booth in Tan Nhut commune, helping them bypass the congestion.

Police opened a lane for cars to use the emergency lane on the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway, heading from the Mekong Delta towards the city, to reduce congestion. Photo: Ho Bay

This emergency lane guidance operation on the expressway, specifically for traffic heading from the Mekong Delta towards HCMC, was in effect from 4:30 PM to 11:30 PM. Traffic police urged drivers to strictly adhere to the instructions and signals from law enforcement officers, avoid reckless overtaking, maintain safe distances, and limit lane changes.

Ho Dinh