On the afternoon of 17/7, the intersection of provincial roads 25B and 319 (in Nhon Trach commune) leading to the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway was gridlocked for kilometers, trapping drivers for hours as they attempted to reach Ho Chi Minh City.

The congestion stemmed from repairs to an expansion joint on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway. This forced authorities to implement traffic control measures and close the expressway entrance at the national highway 51 intersection (Long Thanh commune) this morning.

Numerous container trucks, lorries, and cars were stuck on highway 319 in Nhon Trach commune on the afternoon of 17/7. According to several drivers, the closure of the national highway 51 access point diverted a large volume of traffic onto this route to access the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh expressway.

The intersection of highways 319 and 25B in Nhon Trach commune experienced continuous congestion due to the sheer volume of vehicles. "This area has been gridlocked frequently since yesterday," stated Hung, a security guard working in the area.

"I checked the map this morning and saw it was clear, so I took this route to get onto the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh expressway. I've now been stationary for two hours," explained Nhat Anh, a 31-year-old driver traveling from Vung Tau to Ho Chi Minh City.

Many drivers and passengers got out of their vehicles to chat or call their families on highway 319 in Nhon Trach commune.

Huynh Minh Thien, 50, transporting goods to Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City), took the opportunity to buy a boxed lunch and eat it in his cabin. He recounted being stuck on national highway 51 for hours yesterday and chose this route today, only to encounter even worse congestion.

Frustrated bus passengers gazed out the windows as their vehicle remained stationary for over an hour.

Other vehicles on the road made way for an ambulance, allowing it to navigate through the gridlock.

Cars filled the motorcycle lane, forcing motorcyclists to weave between vehicles. Some bus passengers resorted to motorcycle taxis to reach their destinations.