Hanoi suffers from traffic congestion before Tet

Published: 26/01/2011 05:00

Increased use of taxis in cold weather, people going shopping or arranging last minute business has created the worst traffic in Ha Noi to date. Almost all roads are gridlocked several times a day.

Increased use of taxis in cold weather, people going shopping or arranging last minute business has created the worst traffic in Ha Noi to date. Almost all roads are gridlocked several times a day.

Traffic is always present in Hanoi, but as Tet approaches more and more vehicles crowd the streets and create a significantly more stressful and tiring environment for drivers and pedestrians

From personal time to business opportunities, losses of all kind are being blamed on traffic.

Owners of fashion shops on Thai Ha and Chua Boc streets complained that they have lost many customers because of traffic jams. The reason is motorbikes frequently drive on the sidewalk and their customers don’t have any space to park their motorbikes.

“Normally traffic jams happen during peak hours in the early morning and late afternoon but in the past few days, peak hours last the entire day so nobody is interested in shopping here,” said a salesgirl of a fashion shop on Chua Boc street.

She said all shops are expecting to sell goods later this week when the flows of vehicles reduces after workers and students return home for Tet holiday. At that time, people staying in Hanoi for the holiday will be on vacation and they will go shopping.

Traffic jams als impact the delivery of goods .Due to traffic jams, delivery companies cannot deliver goods on time and have to compensate customers.

Those who deliver ornamental trees said it is a nightmare transporting ornamental trees these days because trees can be harmed easily.