On the morning of 1 January 2026 many motorists left Ho Chi Minh City for holiday destinations, producing a mix of smooth highway travel and local congestion. Local reporters observed long queues of cars at key feeder roads even though the main expressway itself remained largely clear.
Ho Chi Minh traffic: An Phu and Phu Huu face peak demand
By 08:00 traffic at the An Phu interchange had increased sharply. Vehicles, particularly private cars, formed long lines on Mai Chi Tho Boulevard and Dong Van Cong Street as drivers waited to join the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay expressway. Photographs taken that morning show cars queued in several lanes approaching the highway entrance.
Despite the queues on approach roads, once vehicles entered the expressway they were able to travel without delay. Traffic authorities and highway operators reported normal flows on the toll road, easing longer-distance travel to coastal destinations such as Vung Tau and Phan Thiet.
Initial reports from the Phu Huu roundabout indicated a controlled flow of traffic, with the junction opened to allow motorists direct access to the expressway. That arrangement helped many drivers leave the city smoothly during the peak departure period.
However, around 08:25 the situation changed on the link road from the Phu Huu roundabout toward the Phu My Bridge. Officers positioned at a right-turn point prevented cars from turning onto the expressway, a measure that produced a fresh backlog along the feeder road. Motorists were left waiting in long lines until traffic control measures were adjusted.
Local authorities frequently deploy temporary traffic controls during holiday peaks to manage flows and reduce incidents. In this case the short-term restriction at the Phu Huu exit appears to have been intended to control merging movements and maintain safety, but it also created a momentary bottleneck for those attempting to access the highway at that point.
Commuters and holidaymakers were advised to consider alternative entry points to the expressway and to expect variable delays on feeder roads during the morning. Traffic officials reiterated that the expressway proper was operating normally, and long-distance travel along the toll road was not affected by the local congestion at the interchanges.
The image accompanying the early-morning report shows a dense line of cars approaching a highway ramp, illustrating the contrast between packed feeder roads and the free-flowing expressway beyond. Authorities say they will monitor the situation throughout the holiday period and deploy personnel where necessary to keep traffic moving and ensure road safety.
Drivers planning travel from Ho Chi Minh City during the holiday should allow extra time for local approaches to highway entrances, follow directions from traffic officers, and use official traffic updates where available.
Key Takeaways:
- Morning of 1 January 2026 saw heavy vehicle build-up at An Phu and Phu Huu interchanges as residents left Ho Chi Minh City for holidays.
- Local arteries such as Mai Chi Tho and Dong Van Cong experienced long queues while the HCMC – Long Thanh – Dau Giay expressway remained free-flowing.
- Traffic flows were initially smooth at Phu Huu roundabout, but right-turns onto the expressway were later blocked by authorities, causing renewed congestion.
