From 9 am on March 28, authorities cordoned off two lanes of Long Bien Bridge used by pedestrians, motorbikes and non-motorised vehicles, suspending traffic for 60 days for urgent repairs.
Under the diversion plan, motorbikes and non-motorised vehicles travelling from Bo De Ward to Hoan Kiem Ward are rerouted via Long Bien 1 and Long Bien 2 roads, along the Long Bien-Xuan Quan dyke road, before accessing Chuong Duong Bridge.
The closure has funnelled traffic towards Chuong Duong Bridge, placing heavy pressure on the route.
On March 30, the first working day of the week, traffic volumes surged during rush hour. Congestion began building up along Xuan Quan dyke road from around 6.30 am as large numbers of motorbikes and other vehicles converged on the bridge.
Some riders mounted pavements and embankments in attempts to bypass congestion, worsening disorder and raising safety risks.
Traffic jams showed no sign of easing by 7.30 am, with both the dyke road and lower routes packed with vehicles inching forward.
Traffic police were deployed to direct and regulate flows, but heavy volumes continued to strain the network.
Cyclists struggled to navigate through tightly packed traffic approaching the bridge, while by 8 am, long queues extended along Nguyen Van Cu Street towards Chuong Duong Bridge.
Many motorcyclists continued to use pavements to avoid congestion, further complicating traffic conditions and increasing accident risks.