Vehicles stop in front of a designated line at a red light on Kim Lien Moi Street in Hanoi’s Dong Da District on Monday morning.
Decree 168, effective from Jan. 1, introduces fines ranging from VND200,000 (US$7.87) to VND600,000 for motorcycles and cars that stop beyond designated lines.
More serious violations, such as riding on sidewalks, running red lights, or entering restricted roads, now carry penalties of VND4-6 million (US$157-236), 10 times higher than those under the previous regulations.
On Giai Phong Street near the turn onto Linh Dam Road, long traffic jams persisted on Monday morning, but motorcyclists refrained from riding on the sidewalks as they previously did.
However, on Nguyen Xien Street in Thanh Xuan District, some motorcyclists continued to use the sidewalks as the congestion worsened.
On Vo Thi Sau Street in District 3, heavy congestion persists during peak hours, but instances of vehicles riding on sidewalks have decreased, keeping pedestrian areas clear.
Hoang Long, 45, who was carrying luggage while waiting for a ride, said he now feels safer standing on the sidewalk.
"Before, I had to dodge motorbikes speeding by and feared collisions. Now, walking [on the sidewalk] feels much more comfortable," he said.
Motorcycles and cars now stop at the red-light line on Tran Hung Dao Street near Ben Thanh Market in District 1. Previously, this high-traffic area often saw motorbikes turning right onto Ham Nghi Street during red lights to bypass congestion.
Under the new rule, drivers may only turn right at a red light if signage permits it.
On a stretch of Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street in District 3, traffic at intersections has become orderly, with motorbikes no longer climbing onto sidewalks to turn right onto Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street—a one-way road that previously caused chaos at junctions.
However, in some areas, motorcyclists still resort to using sidewalks during congestion.
Within a week of enforcing Decree 168, Ho Chi Minh City traffic police reported 11,830 violations, including driving under the influence, speeding, improper lane use, riding on sidewalks, and running red lights, resulting in fines totaling VND42.5 billion, a VND11 billion increase compared to the previous period.
Lieutenant Colonel Le Van Hai, deputy head of the city’s Traffic Police Department, noted that the stricter penalties under Decree 168 have significantly improved traffic awareness.
"After about a week of enforcement, we’ve observed a decrease in violations, indicating that drivers are becoming more mindful of traffic safety," he said.
