CaliToday (05/12/2025): As the festive season approaches, the pulse of Ho Chi Minh City is beating faster but its arteries are clogging up. New data released this morning reveals a worrying trend: traffic congestion at the city's key gateways has surged by 24% compared to previous months, signaling the start of a grueling year-end travel season.
1. The "Red Alert" Statistics
According to the HCMC Department of Transport, the volume of vehicles entering and exiting the city has reached critical levels earlier than usual this year.
The Surge: The 24% increase is attributed to a "perfect storm" of factors: a spike in logistics activities for the Tet (Lunar New Year) preparation, an increase in personal travel, and ongoing infrastructure construction projects.
The Reality: For commuters, this percentage translates to lost time. A typical 45-minute drive from the city center to the outskirts is now stretching into a 90-minute ordeal during peak hours.
2. The Choke Points: Areas to Avoid
Drivers are currently facing "bumper-to-bumper" traffic at several critical bottlenecks. If you are planning to travel, be wary of these zones:
The Eastern Gateway (Thu Duc City): The area surrounding Cat Lai Port and the intersection of Mai Chi Tho - An Phu is heavily congested due to thousands of container trucks rushing to meet export/import deadlines.
The Airport Sector (Tan Son Nhat): Streets like Truong Son and Cong Hoa are experiencing paralysis not just during rush hour, but intermittently throughout the day.
The Western Gateway (National Highway 1): The primary route connecting HCMC to the Mekong Delta is seeing a massive influx of coaches and delivery vans.
3. Why Is It Happening Now?
Beyond the standard "rush hour" explanation, experts point to three specific drivers for this 2025 congestion:
Economic Push: Businesses are accelerating goods transport to close out the 2025 fiscal year.
Infrastructure Paradox: While the city is building new ring roads and metro lines to solve traffic later, the current construction barriers are narrowing lanes and causing immediate bottlenecks.
E-commerce Boom: The explosion of last-mile delivery services means more shippers and vans are occupying road space than ever before.
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| Traffic jam on Tran Quoc Hoan street towards Lang Cha Ca roundabout - Photo: Minh Quan |
4. Authorities Take Action
In response to the rising pressure, HCMC Traffic Police (PC08) have announced an emergency plan:
100% Force Deployment: Traffic officers will be stationed at all major hotspots during peak hours (6:00 AM - 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM).
Signal Adjustments: Traffic light timings are being manually overridden to prioritize heavy flows.
Strict Enforcement: A crackdown on lane encroachment and illegal parking is underway to clear as much road space as possible.
Survival Guide for Commuters
If you must travel through HCMC gateways in the coming weeks:
Check Apps: Use Google Maps or local traffic apps like TTGT to check for real-time red zones.
Buffer Time: Add at least 45 minutes to your estimated travel time, especially if heading to the airport.
Avoid Peak Trucks: Try to avoid the roads between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM when industrial traffic is heaviest.