Recorded during peak hours on the morning of August 21, the system of no-entry signs and traffic diversion signs has been installed and completed by functional forces, easy to observe at both ends of Kham Thien street (direction intersecting with Le Duan and Ton Duc Thang - De La Thanh) as well as at intersections along the route.
The number of taxis and contract cars under 8 seats, which occupy a very high density on this route, has decreased significantly. Most drivers have proactively grasped information and changed directions of travel.
However, through actual observation on the first day of application, there are still a few cases where taxis, due to not paying attention to traffic signs, still move into Kham Thien street during prohibited hours.
Serious prolonged traffic congestion did not occur. However, due to rain causing slow motorbike movement, combined with a large number of vehicles from small alleys pouring into the road, at some intersections such as Kham Thien market alley, Cong Trang alley... localized congestion was still recorded at some points.
Living in Kham Thien Market Alley for many years, Ms. Pham Thi Hoan (Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam ward) shared that this street is originally a "black spot" for congestion due to the density of vehicles pouring into the central area being too high during peak hours.
Since there are pilot solutions as well as officially banning taxis and contract cars with fewer than 8 seats, the congestion situation has decreased significantly compared to before. However, the actual results have not yet reached the level that people expect due to the pressure from motorbikes and personal vehicles during rush hours, which is still very high. We really hope that functional agencies will continue to have more synchronous traffic diversion solutions to completely solve the black spot of congestion on this street," Ms. Hoan expressed.
Mr. Pham Huy Minh, a taxi driver, said that he had proactively grasped the information in advance to adjust his work itinerary. "When I heard the news that Kham Thien street bans taxis during peak hours, this morning I proactively changed my travel itinerary through Ton Duc Thang street. In general, the itinerary has not changed too much and does not affect the travel time, except for the case of having to pick up or drop off passengers along Kham Thien street during prohibited hours, which will be more difficult for both drivers and customers," Mr. Minh said.
According to the traffic organization plan announced by the Hanoi Department of Construction, the restriction of taxis and contract cars under 8 seats on Kham Thien street will be implemented from today, August 21, 2026.
During the morning rush hour from 6am to 9am, taxis and contract cars under 8 seats (excluding drivers) are prohibited from operating in the direction from Nguyen Luong Bang - O Cho Dua area to Le Duan street.
In the afternoon, from 4 pm to 7:30 pm, the above vehicles are prohibited from operating in the direction from Le Duan street to Nguyen Luong Bang - O Cho Dua.
The regulation does not apply on holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.
This is considered an urgent infrastructure diversion solution for Hanoi city to reduce the load on one of the narrowest and busiest traffic axes in the capital's center.
People and vehicle drivers need to proactively choose suitable routes, avoiding traffic during prohibited hours.
