Vehicles flood Hanoi’s gateways as Lunar New Year holiday begins

The 2026 holiday in Vietnam for civil servants and public employees was scheduled for nine consecutive days, from Saturday, February 14 (27th of the twelfth lunar month), to Sunday, February 22 (sixth of the first lunar month).

From dawn, streets heading toward the capital’s gateways were already crowded with vehicles.

By late morning, streams of cars and motorbikes thickened as thousands of people departed the city to reunite with their families in their hometowns for the Tet celebration.

Congestion built up quickly along Phap Van - Cau Gie Expressway heading toward provinces, south of Hanoi.

A line of vehicles stretched nearly two kilometers in front of the toll station, prompting traffic police to deploy additional officers to direct and regulate traffic.

Meanwhile, the eastern gateway of Hanoi experienced severe gridlock.

Vehicles were stuck in traffic for up to five kilometers from Co Linh Street to the toll gate of Hanoi - Hai Phong Expressway.

Favorable weather conditions, with temperatures ranging between 20 and 26 degrees Celsius and light sunshine, made it easier for commuters to return to their hometowns.

The Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security forecast that congestion at Hanoi’s gateways would gradually subside from the afternoon onward.

An officer from the department urged motorists traveling during the Tet holiday to plan their routes and departure times carefully.

Drivers encountering congestion or road incidents were advised to strictly comply with traffic laws and follow instructions from law enforcement officers.

The department also emphasized the importance of thoroughly checking vehicle conditions before entering expressways, ring roads, and elevated roads.

Breakdowns on these routes could quickly trigger prolonged traffic jams, further compounding holiday travel pressure.