Traffic congestion in Vietnam’s southern metropolis has worsened as always during the run up to Tet. This year an added factor is the change in traffic behavior due to tough new penalties for violations of road rules.
Between Jan. 13 and 17 streets in downtown District 1, such as Ton Duc Thang, Cong Truong Me Linh and Le Thanh Ton, home to popular tourist attractions and shopping malls, were severely congested, particularly at 5-7 p.m.
The area, frequented by foreign tourists, always has chaotic traffic with motorbikes and cars jostling for space.
Lea, a French tourist visiting HCMC with her husband in mid-January for a winter vacation, found the traffic overwhelming at first.
“On our first day I felt stressed by the crowded roads and constant honking,” she says.
Lea and her husband walk along Bach Dang wharf park in downtown HCMC to watch the sunset, Jan. 17, 2025. Photo by Read/Bich Phuong |
From Tan Son Nhat airport to their hotel, the couple waited for half an hour before a ride-hailing driver accepted their request.
“This is the first time I have seen roads packed with so many motorbikes and cars,” Lea says.
But by the second day they adjusted to the city’s bustle.
They primarily used taxis to travel around the city center, and since they had no particular schedule waiting for a ride during rush hour did not frustrate them too much.
Lea says first-time visitors to HCMC should install a ride-hailing app and book rides 30 to 60 minutes in advance to avoid delays.
Australian Grant Wilson, who has visited HCMC several times, describes his first impression of the city’s traffic as “more chaotic than I imagined.”
“I’ve been stuck in traffic jams many times here, the worst being on my way to the airport.”
Traffic jams during the rainy season were “a nightmare,” he says.
But other tourists see the traffic as part of the city’s charm.
Ichika from Japan enjoyed the traffic jams on Ton Duc Thang Street, describing them as a “fascinating experience.”
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Ichika from Japan poses for photos with a scene of heavy traffic in HCMC’s District 1, Jan. 17, 2025. Photo by Read/Bich Phuong |
During her five-day trip to HCMC she encountered traffic jams daily.
“For first-time visitors like me, the sight of streets packed with vehicles is curious and interesting.”
Traveling mainly by taxi, she observed that cars often seemed to stand still in traffic surrounded by a sea of motorbikes.
“Traffic jams are common in the afternoon, but they have not significantly affected my schedule.”
Ichika compares HCMC with Tokyo, where public transport is the primary mode of travel and traffic jams are rare.
“In Tokyo, the streets are usually clear.”
Cristina of Spain found the sheer volume of motorbikes in HCMC both “exciting and surprising.” She describes the constant flow of vehicles, congested roads and intersections without traffic lights as a “unique experience.”
“In Spain, people mostly walk, use public transport or cycle. Motorbikes are rare, and traffic jams usually only happen on highways.”
She says visitors to HCMC should consider walking within a one-kilometer radius of the city center and avoid traveling by taxi between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Nguyen Viet Dang Khoa, manager of Vespa A Go Go, a company offering city tours on vintage scooters, says traffic congestion has worsened since early January following the introduction of the new traffic violation penalties, which are around 10 times higher then previous regulations, for violations like jumping the lights or driving on the sidewalks.
The scooter tours, particularly from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., have been impacted, he admits.
“[But] most tourists view traffic jams as part of the cultural experience, and so there is little negative feedback.”
But since tourists on full-day tours might feel fatigued by the end of the day, his company adjusts itineraries, duration and pre-determines alternative routes to avoid heavy congestion, he says.
“Our tour guides, who double as drivers, choose alternative routes when they notice signs of congestion.”
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