The rate of increase in personal vehicles is much higher than the possibility of expanding traffic infrastructure, creating great pressure on the capital's road system, causing many roads to frequently fall into overload, especially during peak hours.
On the afternoon of March 3, Deputy Minister of Construction Le Anh Tuan had a working session with the Hanoi Department of Construction to assess the current situation and discuss solutions to handle traffic congestion in Hanoi.
At the working session, Mr. Tran Huu Bao - Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Construction said that Hanoi City currently has about 8.8 million people, while the number of vehicles has exceeded 9.3 million, of which motorbikes account for over 86%. Notably, the rate of vehicle growth reaches about 4-5% per year, many times higher than the rate of transport infrastructure development, only about 0.35%/year. This large difference increases pressure on the urban transport system.
In addition, the proportion of land reserved for traffic is only about 12.2%, significantly lower than the requirements according to the plan. Land reserved for static traffic - including stations, parking lots - only reaches about 0.65%. The whole city has only completed 72/1. 690 parking lots according to the plan, showing a serious shortage of infrastructure serving vehicles. According to statistics, in 2026, Hanoi City recorded 51 points that frequently experience congestion, of which only 15 points have been handled.
Faced with this situation, Hanoi City has been and is implementing many synchronous solutions, both short-term and long-term. The city has developed a master plan to reduce traffic congestion in the period 2025-2030 with 10 key groups of solutions. In which, priority is given to completing specific mechanisms and policies to attract infrastructure investment resources; reviewing and adjusting traffic planning in accordance with urban development practices; and at the same time promoting investment in ring roads, radial axes and bridge systems over the Red River to increase connectivity and traffic diversion.
One of the important goals set by Hanoi is to strongly develop the urban railway system. According to the plan, the city strives to complete about 100km of urban railway in the 2026-2030 period and increase the total length to about 301km in the next period. In parallel with that, public passenger transport is identified as a key solution, with the goal of meeting at least 30% of people's travel needs by 2030.
Along with applying smart technology in traffic management and administration, Hanoi City is researching projects to limit personal vehicles, zoning and restrict motorbikes, and collecting tolls for vehicles entering areas at high risk of congestion. Hanoi City will also gradually relocate universities and hospitals out of the inner city area," Mr. Tran Huu Bao informed.
From the perspective of immediate solutions, Hanoi City is focusing on accelerating the progress of key traffic infrastructure projects; narrowing and removing construction barriers when conditions are sufficient; reorganizing traffic at complex intersections. Functional forces are strengthened to divert traffic at 267 intersections during peak hours, and at the same time arrange forces at 152 school gates to reduce congestion during school pick-up and drop-off hours. Handling violations of encroachment on roads and sidewalks is also tightened to restore space for pedestrians and vehicles.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan emphasized that traffic congestion resolution needs to be implemented in a comprehensive and synchronous direction between infrastructure managed by the Central Government and urban traffic systems managed by localities. Hanoi needs to proactively coordinate closely with the Ministry of Construction in the process of project implementation, ensuring smooth connection and promoting investment efficiency.
According to Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan, many important transport infrastructure projects being implemented or preparing for investment by the Ministry and its affiliated units play a major role in connecting regions and reducing traffic pressure for the Capital. These include expressways, regional connection axes, Ho Chi Minh road; radial national highways connecting Hanoi with neighboring provinces; and projects to upgrade and expand key national highways. In addition, inter-regional belt projects such as Ring Road 5, when completed, will contribute to remote traffic diversion and reduce the load on the inner city area.
The Ministry of Construction will continue to coordinate and support Hanoi City to remove difficulties and obstacles, gradually reduce and move towards fundamentally resolving traffic congestion, towards building a synchronous, modern and effectively connected capital traffic system with the Capital region as well as neighboring areas," Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan affirmed.
