HCMC – Traffic congestion on the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway eased by midday on Thursday after several hours of gridlock, as travel demand surged during the Lunar New Year holiday.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, vehicle volume increased on expressways passing through Dong Nai Province, causing congestion in multiple sections. Many drivers stopped at rest areas, but these facilities were also overwhelmed.
Traffic on the expressways connecting Dong Nai and Binh Thuan, including the Phan Thiet–Dau Giay and HCMC–Long Thanh–Dau Giay routes, was heavy throughout the morning. In HCMC, congestion was reported at the An Phu interchange, the entry point to the expressway, as vehicles crowded onto Mai Chi Tho Street.
According to travelers, traffic jams stretched from An Phu interchange to the Long Phuoc toll station and Long Thanh Bridge. However, congestion eased after vehicles passed the bridge.
The congestion prompted some travelers to delay their departures. The Anh, a driver from District 7, HCMC, said he postponed his trip to Vung Tau City due to heavy traffic in the morning. “At 12:30 p.m., my family entered the expressway, and by 1:30 p.m., we reached the National Highway 51 interchange,” he said.
By midday, traffic on the HCMC–Dau Giay Expressway had cleared after hours of slow movement.
Traffic police in Cat Lai advised drivers to consider alternative routes to avoid congestion at An Phu interchange. Suggested detours include taking Mai Chi Tho Street to Vo Nguyen Giap, turning onto Do Xuan Hop, and entering the expressway at Phu Huu roundabout. Another option is to follow the parallel road to the expressway, then take Do Xuan Hop and Nguyen Duy Trinh streets before merging onto the expressway at Phu Huu.
