From early morning, throngs of people from across the country converged on the exhibition center, causing heavy traffic along Hoang Sa Street, from Dong Tru Bridge to Vo Chi Cong Street, in both directions.

By noon and early afternoon, crowds continued to pour in, leaving the road nearly paralyzed in both directions.

Many people had to walk to reach the exhibition center, while numerous cars were left parked along the street and sidewalks as traffic came to a standstill.

Police officers, traffic wardens, and security guards were stationed at intersections to ease congestion, but the crowds only inched forward.

Inside the exhibition areas, both indoors and outdoors, visitors packed every space.

Nguyen Hung, a Hanoi resident, said it took him and his family nearly three hours to reach the exhibition area.

“It was quite inconvenient because of the traffic, but once we got here, it was worth the effort to witness the remarkable achievements of our country,” he shared.

The exhibition, runs from August 28 to September 5, spans more than 250,900 square meters and showcases Vietnam’s remarkable achievements over 80 years of nation-building and development, particularly in key sectors.

It is the largest exhibition ever held, featuring the participation of 28 ministries and central agencies, 34 localities, and over 110 major economic enterprises and groups across more than 230 booths.

Le Huyen Anh, a visitor from Bac Ninh Province, said she expected traffic jams but did not anticipate such huge crowds.

“I took a taxi, but once we reached Dong Tru Bridge the car could not move any further,” she said.

“I had to get out and hire a motorbike taxi for the remaining three kilometers to the exhibition center.

“But it was worth the effort, as I was amazed by how far our country has advanced, especially in areas such as national defense and science and technology.”