Two consecutive car accidents caused severe traffic congestion spanning nearly 10 km on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway on 3/5. The incidents occurred as motorists returned to Ho Chi Minh City from Dong Nai following a four-day holiday, leading to significant delays from midday.

The initial incident, involving three 4-7 seater cars in a chain collision, occurred around 12h near Long Thanh Bridge in Long Thanh commune, Dong Nai. While no injuries were reported, the crash happened on the final day of the holiday, a period of exceptionally high traffic volume, causing immediate disruption to the expressway.

Collision involving three cars on the expressway. *Photo: Dinh Van*

As authorities responded to the first scene, a second collision involving two cars occurred approximately one kilometer away, further exacerbating the traffic gridlock.

The congestion stretched for nearly 10 km, from toll booth 319 in Dong Nai to the Long Truong interchange in what was formerly Thu Duc City. Vehicles moved at a crawl, often inching forward or coming to a complete standstill. Long queues formed at the Long Phuoc toll booth as drivers waited to pass.

Cars inching forward due to expressway congestion, heading from Dong Nai to Ho Chi Minh City. *Photo: Dinh Van*

Expressway management and traffic police deployed personnel to manage the accident sites and direct traffic from a distance. Despite these efforts, the traffic situation remained severe due to the continuous influx of vehicles. By 15h30, many sections of the expressway still experienced slow-moving traffic.

The Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway spans 55,7 km and was fully opened in 2015. The section from Ho Chi Minh City to Long Thanh is currently undergoing expansion to increase its operational capacity.

Route of the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway. *Graphic: Khanh Hoang*

Dinh Van