Heavy traffic jams lasting many hours were reported on the trans-Vietnam National Way 1A Sunday, as people flocked home to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year).

Starting at 3a.m., a traffic jam blocking thousands of buses and trucks in the central province of Khanh Hoa had not eased until that night.

It affected two mountain passes more than 30 kilometers long on the national way and threatened to block the North-South railway route.

Pham Thi Huong, a railway guard, said two trucks were stuck on the Van Gia route Sunday morning. They had to ask the drivers to move to a vacant land nearby so a train could pass through, she said.

She said they had asked for help, including more guards, from their seniors.

Pham Tien Si, a traffic policeman in the central province’s Van Ninh District, said they had cleared part of the jam, but due to the large number of vehicles, it was slow work.

Meanwhile, some people, especially those who were driving cars, chose to turn back and take other routes.

Le Dang Phong from the southern town of Vung Tau said he would choose another route even if it is longer. “If I keep staying here, I have no idea when I would reach home to celebrate New Year’ s Eve (which falls on February 2) with my family.”

Others with no choice but to stay put, faced the propsect of going hungry as the place is far from residential areas.

A similar situation was reported Sunday morning on the national way’s section between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.

The traffic jam lasted many hours with vehicles lined up for several kilometers, especially on bridges.

Tran Hoai Bao, chief of An Giang Province’s traffic police division, said a severe traffic jam also happened the day before, starting at night and lasting until Sunday morning.

Bao said traffic jams will continue hitting the national way until New Year’s Eve. He said his division would expend all its resources in trying to ensure smooth traffic flow, especially in congestion prone areas.