An Phú Intersection, Ho Chi Minh City’s Eastern Gateway, Jam-Packed Ahead of New Year Holiday

Starting around 5 PM, the Mai Chí Thọ road—a vital artery connecting the eastern part of Ho Chi Minh City to the HCMC-Long Thành-Dầu Giây Expressway—began to experience heavy congestion.

At the An Phú intersection, vehicles packed tightly, moving at a snail’s pace, with traffic nearly at a standstill during peak moments. The ramps leading to the expressway were equally overwhelmed by a sudden surge in traffic volume.

This congestion stemmed from residents rushing to leave the city early to avoid peak hours, compounded by a simultaneous influx of vehicles heading to provinces in the Southeast and Central Highlands. Additionally, ongoing traffic reorganization in certain areas, coupled with heavy container and truck traffic entering and exiting ports in Thủ Đức, further intensified the gridlock.

Traffic police and relevant authorities were deployed to manage and redirect traffic at critical points to minimize prolonged congestion. However, due to the unprecedented surge in vehicles, gridlock persisted during the evening rush hour.

By 6 PM, traffic density on Mai Chí Thọ Road and the An Phú intersection remained exceptionally high. Many roads were jammed, with vehicles moving at a crawl.

Traffic is expected to remain heavy throughout the evening of December 31st and the morning of January 1st as vehicles continue to exit Ho Chi Minh City. Residents are advised to plan their travel times wisely, monitor traffic updates, and adhere to guidance from authorities.