On the afternoon and evening of February 2 (the 5th day of the Lunar New Year), Lao Dong Newspaper reporters recorded that lines of vehicles lined up on the Ho Chi Minh Highway and Hoa Binh - Hoa Lac Highway returning to the capital after the 9-day Lunar New Year 2025 holiday. Many cars and motorbikes were packed with luggage and suitcases, busily moving.
According to observations, on the Ho Chi Minh road section through Hoa Binh province, in contrast to the usual clear scene, many locations have seen traffic jams, with vehicles having to move step by step.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Dang Sy Nhan (33 years old, from Ngoc Lac district, Thanh Hoa) said: "Today is the 5th day of Tet, the last day of the holiday, everyone is rushing back to Hanoi to be on time for work tomorrow, so the number of vehicles has increased a lot, many sections are still congested."
According to Mr. Nhan, at around 2 p.m., he and his family started traveling by car to Hanoi, taking nearly 3 hours for about 160 km. Because he was worried about traffic congestion back to the city, he proactively left earlier. However, the traffic on Ho Chi Minh route had become crowded, making travel difficult.
Similarly, on the Hoa Lac – Hoa Binh route, the traffic increased as the evening wore on, and the vehicles moved slowly step by step.
Mr. Nguyen Van Linh (45 years old, owner of a tea shop in Trung Minh ward, Hoa Binh city) said that the number of vehicles on the Hoa Lac - Hoa Binh route increased dramatically from the afternoon of the 4th day of Tet. Many people tried to move early to return to work on the 6th day of Tet.
Although the distance from Hoa Binh to Hanoi is not too far, to ensure safety, Mr. Vuong Van Tho (37 years old, residing in Phuong Lam ward, Hoa Binh city) proactively traveled at an average speed and stopped to drink water on the way.
“The weather was favorable, no rain so the travel was convenient. However, when reaching Trung Minh commune, Hoa Binh - Hoa Lac route, the traffic volume increased, making the travel somewhat slower,” said Mr. Tho.
Lieutenant Colonel Vu Anh Tuan - Captain of Road Traffic Police Team No. 2 (Traffic Police Department of Hoa Binh Provincial Police) said: "After the Lunar New Year holiday, the number of vehicles increased sharply on the routes to the capital, so the risk of accidents is always present."
“Right before the holiday, the provincial police directed the traffic police to increase propaganda to drivers and traffic participants to pay attention when traveling on many routes and to check safety systems such as brakes, tires, etc. to minimize traffic accidents,” Lieutenant Colonel Tuan informed.
According to statistics from the Traffic Police Department of Hoa Binh Province, during the Lunar New Year holiday, the traffic safety situation in the whole province was safe and stable, with no traffic jams, no cases of weaving, or illegal racing. Compared to the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin 2024, there were 11 fewer traffic accidents.
Through patrols and inspections, the traffic police force detected and recorded 475 violations, equivalent to a fine of VND 2.5 billion; revoked driving licenses in 16 cases; and temporarily detained 339 vehicles.
Some images recorded by PV:
