The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has issued a plan to meet travel demand and ensure traffic safety during the Lunar New Year, which will run from February 7 to February 26.
During the peak period, Tan Son Nhat International Airport is projected to handle an average of 940 flights a day, equivalent to about 145,000 passengers, up 25 per cent from the current flight schedule and 7 per cent from the 2025 Tet holiday.
The busiest pre-Tet days are forecast for February 13-14 with 1,017 flights a day, while the heaviest post-Tet traffic is expected on February 21-22 as residents return to the city.
From January 13, VietJet’s domestic check-in area has been moved to Hall A at Terminal 1, while all other domestic airlines will operate from the new Terminal 3.
This is also the first Tet peak season in which the city will oversee operations at both Tan Son Nhat and Con Dao airports, following administrative changes. Con Dao Airport is expected to handle 30 flights and 1,768 passengers a day, up 8 per cent from the 2025 Tet holiday.
Transport demand is forecast to rise, with inter-provincial bus stations expected to serve 76,367 passengers and 4,360 trips a day, while the national railway will handle an average of 11,500 passengers daily, including 10,000 at Saigon Station and 1,500 at Di An Station.
The Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line is projected to carry 855,465 passengers over the 20-day peak period, or about 77,770 a day, up 42 per cent from last year’s Tet.
On inland waterways, the Cat Lai Ferry is expected to serve 42,400 passengers and 174 trips a day, down 10 per cent and 11 per cent, while the Binh Khanh Ferry is projected to handle 24,400 passengers and 156 trips a day, up 20 per cent and 41 per cent.
The department warned of heavier traffic at key gateways such as An Phu, Tan Van and national highways 13 and 51, and ordered agencies to roll out congestion-reduction plans, step up safety checks, publish ticket prices and set up passenger hotlines.
