Passenger numbers have increased by 50 percent over normal days at Hanoi bus stations like Gia Lam, My Dinh, and Giap Bat, with students traveling home to Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Nam Dinh and Thai Nguyen.
Nguyen Nam, who works at the Giap Bat bus station said February 5, the high number of students traveling would continue for February 6 and 7.
Large numbers of ticket brokers have been cashing in on the spiraling demand at the stations.
Many of the buses picked up extra passengers on the street after leaving Giap Bat station, holding up traffic on the stretch from the station to Giai Phong Street.
The same day, many streets in inner Hanoi were jammed because of a large number of vehicles transporting goods from surrounding provinces to the city.
The worst congestion was at Giang Vo Street in front of Vietnam Exhibition and Fair Center.
Hoang Hoa Tham Street was also gridlocked because of flower and ornamental tree sellers encroaching on the traffic thoroughfare.
Gateways to inner city like Nguyen Van Cu Street, Chuong Duong Bridge, and Ha Dong-Nguyen Trai Street were bumper to bumper.
