Reorganizing the intersection paves the way for new policies.
Traffic congestion during rush hour has long been a persistent problem on many major roads in Ho Chi Minh City. On the main Nguyen Van Linh road, it sometimes takes vehicles about 45 minutes to travel just 1 kilometer due to the high volume of trucks, container vehicles, and motorbikes mixed together. At the Pham Van Dong - Phan Van Tri intersection, conflicts between car and motorbike lanes sometimes cause congestion that lasts until late at night.
According to transportation experts, traffic congestion not only increases people's travel time but also causes significant losses to the economy . According to the latest economic reports for 2026, the estimated losses due to traffic congestion in Ho Chi Minh City have surged to approximately US$6 billion per year, much higher than the previously recorded figure of VND 14,000 - VND 23,000 billion (equivalent to US$1.2 billion).
Faced with the reality that land allocated for transportation is nearing its limit, the city is compelled to shift its approach. Instead of simply waiting for expensive road expansion projects, flexible coordination solutions have been and are being implemented by the city.
For example, a 30-meter-long solar-powered automatic traffic divider has been put into operation on Cong Hoa Street – a major thoroughfare running through Bay Hien and Tan Binh wards – to regulate traffic flow from the northwest towards the city center. At the Nguyen Binh Khiem intersection, with an investment of only about 610 million VND to rearrange traffic lights and road markings, conflicts between left-turning and straight-going vehicles have been significantly reduced.
Commenting on these changes, a representative from the Department of Maintenance and Operation of Transportation Infrastructure (Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction) stated that the city previously followed the old method "already found in textbooks," but is now boldly applying a new approach. In the first few days, people found it strange and unfamiliar. However, after a short time, this method has yielded positive results. This solution also helps people develop the habit of observing traffic signs at different times of the day.
Alongside on-site solutions, the legal framework for managing traffic demand has also become clearer. Specifically, the Urban Development Law 2026 (officially effective from October 1, 2026) allows the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council to issue measures to restrict private vehicles and apply congestion pricing.
Previously, on June 19, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council issued Resolution No. 09/2026/NQ-HĐND. The resolution provides a 100% fare subsidy for passengers on 134 bus routes within the city, effective from July 1 to December 31, 2026, aiming to encourage people to switch from private vehicles to public transportation.
With the proposal to charge tolls for cars entering the central area, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee submitted it to the Ministry of Construction for appraisal in August 2026, aiming for implementation before 2030. According to the proposed plan, approximately 34 automated toll gates will be placed around the central ring road.
When data and AI are involved in traffic management.
For a long time, the number of private vehicles has increased much faster than the capacity to expand road space. Therefore, instead of just increasing the "supply" of infrastructure, Ho Chi Minh City is gradually shifting to managing the "demand" of traffic, that is, regulating travel demand based on big data and AI.
Mr. Do Ngoc Hai, representative of the Road Transport Management Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, affirmed that the city no longer relies on experience or subjective feelings to combat traffic congestion. All current traffic light management plans are based on a system that analyzes real-world data from AI cameras and must run simulation scenarios using Digital Twins technology before being implemented in the field. This system automatically calculates and extends the green light phase for eastbound traffic, effectively relieving congestion on major roads such as Vo Van Kiet, Mai Chi Tho, and Pham Van Dong.
However, the role of technology extends beyond just on-site cameras. AI's involvement goes deeper into understanding the root causes of traffic congestion. Dr. Pham Viet Hung, an expert from RMIT University Vietnam, believes that understanding the reasons for congestion is just as important as predicting congestion points. Instead of relying on expensive underground sensor networks, data from the mobile devices of millions of commuters daily is an invaluable source of information. By applying interpretive AI (XAI) models, the research team not only maps traffic congestion but also clearly identifies the core causes, such as geographical location, time of day, and public events.
More broadly, this study demonstrates that developing cities can absolutely use data and AI to address urban challenges without relying solely on costly infrastructure upgrades. Technology is progressively supporting more transparent and understandable decision-making in governance.
In the near future, Dr. Hung and his colleagues plan to expand the reference framework by adding supplementary information sources such as weather conditions, road incidents, and public events, and hope to test this approach in other cities to understand traffic patterns in diverse urban environments.
As someone currently living and working in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Hung views traffic congestion not just as a purely transportation issue, but as a challenge directly impacting people's daily lives. He shared: "My motivation for conducting this research is the opportunity to transform data from everyday commuters into detailed, practical reports that can help the government , businesses, and the community make better decisions."
By making AI not only more powerful but also transparent and easy to understand, the research team hopes to contribute to a future where technology creates efficient, livable, and people-centered cities across Vietnam.
As the country continues to accelerate urbanization and digital transformation , the challenge is no longer simply collecting information; the crucial question is how to transform data into knowledge that citizens can trust and act upon. From remotely controlled traffic dividers to inner-city toll collection plans and intelligent traffic control networks, Ho Chi Minh City is steadily entering the era of data-driven urban governance. Behind these seemingly dry policy decisions, the ultimate goal remains restoring smooth traffic flow and improving the quality of life for millions of residents.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/go-diem-nghen-giao-thong-tp-ho-chi-minh-bang-ai-va-ha-tang-so-post1390942.html
