Thousands of traffic cops take to Hanoi streets ahead of Party Congress

After visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the embalmed body of late President Ho Chi Minh is preserved, delegates traveling in cars and mini buses led by a team of traffic police passed through downtown Hanoi to attend a preparatory session of the 13th Party Congress, the country's most important political event, at the National Convention Center.

Hundreds of cars and mini buses carry 1,587 delegates representing 5.1 million Communist Party members from around the country, the largest number at any congress so far.
The congress will officially open Tuesday and last nine days, during which new leaders would be selected to head the Party, state, government, and National Assembly for the next five years, besides finalizing socio-economic development policies for 2021-25 and orientations until 2030 with a vision toward 2045.

The Hanoi Department of Public Security has mobilized 100 percent of their personnel to ensure around-the-clock safety and regulate traffic during the congress.

Drivers of the more than 60 mini buses with 24 seats have been carefully selected by the Hanoi Department of Transport and Traffic Police Department. All boast good backgrounds and clean traffic records.

The convoy passes Trung Hoa Overpass on Tran Duy Hung Street at 7:20 a.m.
Hanoi has imposed traffic restrictions on 25 downtown streets from Jan. 24 to Feb. 2 as a security measure for the Party Congress, with trucks with a capacity of 500 kilograms or above and mini buses with 24 seats or more banned from using certain streets.

Traffic police utilize sirens and sticks to clear the way for priority vehicles.

Mobile police officers and military personnel are also on duty to ease traffic flow.

Downtown streets are decorated with national flags and large panels and posters promoting the 13th Party Congress.

Police put up fences to block residents from crossing pedestrian overpasses when convoys pass by.

Heavy congestion has occurred in Lieu Giai, Kim Ma, Nguyen Chi Thanh and Tran Duy Hung streets, all temporarily blocked Monday morning to make way for delegates attending the preparatory session of the congress.