Traffic gridlock takes more than just time from millions

A journey that once took me just over 40 minutes—from Tan Son Nhat Airport to District 7, HCMC—recently stretched to nearly two hours. The 10-kilometer trip took as long as my flight from Hanoi to HCMC. Roads were packed, movement was sluggish, and the stifling heat made the experience even more exhausting.

A motorbike taxi driver said had expected higher earnings during the season but found his rides had been cut in half. Travel times had doubled or tripled, yet fares had barely increased, and higher fuel consumption only added to the losses. Many drivers had already quit due to inefficiency, he said.

Traffic congestion on Nguyen Trai Street, Hanoi in January 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Chieu

As ride-hailing services were unavailable, I had to negotiate a fare with this traditional motorbike taxi driver parked on the sidewalk. The ride cost VND200,000 (US$8), whereas a taxi usually only charged around VND150,000.

At intersections, green lights barely allowed movement before turning red again. Previously, motorbikes could turn right on red, but that is now restricted. Hundreds of vehicles idled, releasing thick exhaust fumes into the air. For an office worker, an eight-hour workday now includes an additional four hours of commuting—an exhausting reality that takes a toll on productivity and well-being.

It is not just salaried employees who suffer. A friend in Hanoi, an e-commerce seller, said deliveries had become unpredictable. Many drivers, fearing steep fines, refused orders, disrupting businesses reliant on online sales.

The time wasted in traffic—amid pollution and inefficiency—results in substantial financial and labor losses for millions across Vietnam’s largest cities. Without urgent solutions, the problem will only worsen, further eroding both economic productivity and quality of life.