In the afternoon of April 29, the last working day before the April 30 - May 1 holiday, the number of passengers flocking to Mien Tay Bus Station (An Lac ward) began to increase sharply. Ticket sales areas, waiting rooms and parking lots became busier than in previous days.
According to records, from about 4 pm, streams of people carrying bulky luggage continuously poured into the bus station to catch the bus to the western provinces.
Inside the waiting room, many passengers sat filling the rows of seats, some people took advantage of eating and resting before getting on the bus. At the ticket counters, staff continuously worked, guiding passengers to choose routes and departure times.
The bus stop area also became bustling as passenger cars entered and exited continuously. Bus station staff and bus assistants continuously called on passengers' names, arranging luggage to be on time for departure. Although the number of people increased, the situation inside the station was still basically stable, and no overload occurred.
In the area in front of the bus station gate on Kinh Duong Vuong street, the traffic volume increased. Passenger cars, motorbikes, and private cars interspersed caused traffic to be congested at many times. Vehicles moved slowly, extending on the road leading to the bus station.
At some times, the flow of vehicles is almost "stuck" when the number of vehicles entering and leaving the station increases. Traffic police forces have been present in the area to divert traffic, regulate traffic, and guide vehicles to move in each lane to reduce congestion pressure.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh (from Can Tho) said that she took advantage of leaving work early to go to the bus station: "This year's holiday is a long holiday, so I came home early to reduce the crowd. However, this afternoon the bus station is still quite crowded, buying tickets also has to wait a bit.
Similarly, Mr. Tran Minh Tuan (from Ca Mau) said that he had booked tickets from the previous day, so he did not worry about running out of seats, but still went early to avoid traffic jams. "A few years ago, it was very crowded right at rush hour," Mr. Tuan said.
It is expected that in the late afternoon today and tomorrow, the number of vehicles pouring into Mien Tay Bus Station will continue to increase. The gateway roads to the Mekong Delta provinces may experience congestion.
According to the Traffic Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City Police, to proactively ensure traffic order and safety during the holidays, teams and stations have simultaneously launched operations, maximizing the number of troops participating in traffic regulation; monitoring and grasping the traffic flow situation in the area under their responsibility, especially at the gateways in and out of Ho Chi Minh City. At the same time, functional forces proactively develop plans to promptly handle situations, ensuring safety for people returning to their hometowns and traveling.
