Traffic deaths decline nationwide during nine-day 2026 Tet holiday
Vietnam reports a sharp drop in traffic accidents and deaths during 2026 Tet even as expressway traffic rises, while Hanoi intensifies enforcement against alcohol-related violations over the holiday period.
THE HANOI TIMES — More than 380 traffic accidents occurred nationwide during the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday from February 14 to February 22, killing 230 people and injuring nearly 280, the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security said.
Compared with 2025 Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, accidents fell 29%, fatalities dropped 23% and injuries declined 30%.
Traffic police officers conduct alcoholic test on the streets of Hanoi. Photo: Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper
Road accidents accounted for 378 cases, killing 224 people and injuring 274. One railway accident killed one person. Two inland waterway accidents left five dead and five missing.
Expressways handled more than 5.2 million vehicle trips during the period, up nearly 750,000 from a year earlier. Traffic exiting expressways onto local roads reached nearly 5.4 million trips, an increase of more than 770,000.
Routes with sharp traffic growth included Noi Bai-Lao Cai, Phap Van-Cao Bo-Mai Son-National Highway 45-Nghi Son and Nghi Son-Dien Chau-Bai Vot-Ham Nghi-Bung-Vung Ang-Cam Lo.
Despite heavier volumes, authorities reported no prolonged serious congestion. Traffic peaked during the first and last two days of the holiday, as well as on the fifth and sixth days of the holiday (also the second and third days of the Lunar New Year), when people traveled between major cities and hometowns or made early-year visits.
Police recorded seven cases of resisting officers on duty, including three in Thai Nguyen and one each in Hanoi, Haiphong, Khanh Hoa and Tuyen Quang. Two officers were injured, and seven suspects were detained for investigation.
During the holiday, traffic police nationwide handled nearly 76,400 violations. Officers suspended nearly 2,500 driver’s licenses and professional certificates, deducted points from more than 16,000 licenses, and impounded 747 cars, 26,700 motorcycles and over 1,000 other vehicles.
Authorities processed 26,337 alcohol-related violations, accounting for 34.4% of total traffic offenses. Compared with Tet 2025, alcohol violations increased by 9,188 cases, or 53.5%.
Major violations relate to alcoholic in Hanoi
Traffic conditions in Hanoi remained stable during the nine-day holiday, with no major congestion. However, police continued strict enforcement, particularly for alcohol-related offenses.
The Hanoi Traffic Police Division under the city’s Department of Public Security said it handled more than 2,100 road traffic violations and imposed fines totaling more than VND9.4 billion (US$362,000).
Alcohol violations accounted for 1,450 cases. Police also penalized speeding, red-light violations and improper lane use.
Hanoi recorded 11 traffic accidents during the holiday, killing six people and injuring 11. Compared with Tet 2025, accidents fell by 13 cases, fatalities dropped by 10 and injuries declined by four.
The Hanoi Traffic Police Division attributed the results to early planning and round-the-clock patrols on key routes targeting behaviors that directly cause accidents.
Police will continue patrols and public awareness campaigns to improve compliance and maintain road safety in the coming period.
Traffic police will continue to deploy maximum personnel to regulate traffic flows as residents return to the capital and to ensure safety at early spring festivals, while maintaining strict enforcement against drunk driving and other violations that commonly cause congestion and accidents.
