Many streets in HCM City have reported serious traffic jams.
According to residents, the congestion occurred on almost all main streets, especially in the city centre, including Hai Ba Trung, Dien Bien Phu, Ly Chinh Thang, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, and Vo Thi Sau.
Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street during the afternoon rush hours.
A local woman, Phan Thi Phuong Nhi, said it usually takes her 30 minutes to travel a five-km route from her home in Phu Nhuan District to her office in District 1 every day. However, she now spends one to one and a half hours on the road.
"The street is becoming much more crowded recently," she said.
On Nguyen Van Troi Street
Another resident, Nguyen Quyet Thang, also reported serious congestion at the junction of Hai Ba Trung and Vo Thi Sau.
"We usually have to wait two or even three rounds of the light for our turn to go here," Thang said. "I think the jam can be eased if vehicles are allowed to run the red light to turn right at this intersection."
An HCM City Transport Department representative, Nguyen Xuan Vinh, explained the situation and said that travel demands usually increase before the Tet Lunar New Year Festival. Higher new fines for traffic violations, applied from January 1, also see people travel slower on the roads instead of running on the pavements.
"We're planning to install signs to allow drivers to turn right at the red light on some streets," he said.
HCM City is installing signs to allow drivers to turn right at the red light on some streets.
Under Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's new decree, which took effect on January 1, 2025, fines for traffic violations have significantly increased.
Motorbike drivers caught running red lights, riding in the wrong direction, or encroaching on pavements now face fines of between VND4 and 6 million, a 10-fold increase from the previous penalty.
The department's statistics show that HCM City has over 9.5 million vehicles, including nearly 8.5 million motorbikes and over one million cars.