Severe congestion on Saigon Bridge after container truck collision

The container truck, driven by 44-year-old Nguyen Huu Loi, was moving towards downtown HCMC on the bridge at around 5 a.m. when it rammed into the barrier. The truck then blocked entire lanes.

While the incident did not result in death or injuries, it did cause severe congestion on the Saigon Bridge and Vo Nguyen Giap Street.

Thousands of vehicles could only inch forward as rush hour came, with many deciding to walk off the bridge to avoid the traffic jam, further worsening the situation.

Traffic police officers were present at the scene to remove obstacles, but congestion persisted even at 9 a.m. due to the sheer number of vehicles entering downtown areas.

Police recommended drivers to choose alternative routes and avoid gathering at the Saigon Bridge area.

The bridge, spanning a kilometer, was built in 1958.

It is the eastern entrance into HCMC, connecting the metropolis with other localities in northern and central Vietnam. As congestion is frequent in the area, the Saigon 2 Bridge was opened in 2013 in parallel with the original bridge to help relieve traffic.