By 1 p.m. on August 28, many of Hanoi’s major roads were locked in severe congestion, with some stretches completely paralyzed.

At the Chu Van An - Provincial Road 70 intersection, in front of K Tan Trieu Hospital, traffic was jammed for hours despite it being outside rush hour. Motorcycles mounted sidewalks in an attempt to bypass the congestion, but the sidewalks themselves became clogged, leaving drivers immobile.

The prolonged gridlock led to chaotic driving, with vehicles cutting across lanes and disregarding traffic rules. Nearby routes such as Phuc La Street, Tan Trieu Road, and Cau Buou faced tailbacks stretching several kilometers. At times, vehicles stood completely still, inching forward only a few meters after long waits.

Police confirmed that persistent flooding at the Chu Van An - Provincial Road 70 junction was one of the main causes.

Another hotspot was Quang Trung Street in Ha Dong District, where traffic from the Hanoi General Hospital junction to Chien Thang Street came to a halt. At the Quang Trung - Chu Van An intersection in front of Ha Dong Post Office, long lines of vehicles waited in vain to pass.

According to Traffic Police Team No. 7, part of the congestion stemmed from a nearby university holding a graduation ceremony, which drew thousands of cars and motorcycles to the area.

“We began traffic diversions from 7 a.m. to ease the jams and guided drivers toward alternative routes,” a representative said.

Beyond Ha Dong and Tan Trieu, congestion was also reported on major routes such as National Highway 6 (Mai Linh Bridge area), Vo Chi Cong Street, and Nhat Tan Bridge, where vehicles moved at a crawl for many kilometers.

Dinh Hieu