Traffic chaos gripped Hanoi on October 29 after authorities closed the westbound lane of the historic Long Bien Bridge towards central Hanoi for routine maintenance, forcing vehicles to divert to Chuong Duong Bridge and causing heavy congestion on nearby roads.
The closure, which began early Wednesday, halted all traffic heading from Long Bien into the city centre. Barriers and warning signs were installed at the bridge entrance, while the construction area was fenced off.
Many commuters, unaware of the plan, were forced to turn back, while some motorcyclists ignored the closure and rode against traffic on the open lane.
By 7.30 am, thousands of vehicles were gridlocked along Xuan Quan Dyke and surrounding feeder roads such as Nguyen Van Cu, Ngoc Lam and Ai Mo. Long queues of cars stretched for hundreds of metres, with some drivers diverting through narrow alleys to escape the jam.
At several intersections leading to Xuan Quan Dyke, traffic became chaotic as impatient riders jostled for space, and minor collisions led to arguments.
With the Long Bien Bridge closed to westbound traffic, Chuong Duong Bridge became the main route into central Hanoi, adding pressure to an already busy corridor. By 9 am, congestion persisted, with many motorbikes spilling into car lanes to move faster.
