From August 1st, Ho Chi Minh City officially implemented new regulations on truck operating hours, tightening traffic flow in the inner city. These regulations have caused considerable difficulties for transport businesses and truck drivers, especially in understanding clearly which areas trucks are permitted during curfew and how to comply with the law. This article from Xe Tải Mỹ Đình will provide the most detailed and easy-to-understand information on this issue.
According to the latest decision, light trucks (under 2.5 tons) are not allowed to travel into the inner city from 6 AM to 9 AM and from 4 PM to 8 PM daily. For heavy trucks, the restricted hours are longer, from 6 AM to 10 PM every day. This means that for most of the daytime operating hours, trucks are almost unable to circulate in the city center.
However, not all routes are completely prohibited. The new regulations still create legal corridors, routes where trucks are permitted during curfew to ensure essential goods transportation activities are not completely disrupted. So, specifically, which routes are trucks allowed to travel during curfew hours?
Illustration of a 2-ton light truck representing truck curfew regulations in Ho Chi Minh City.
The corridor routes allowing trucks to operate during curfew on the outskirts of the inner city are clearly defined as follows:
- North and West Directions: National Highway 1, the section from Ha Noi Highway to Nguyen Van Linh Street.
- East Direction: Ha Noi Highway, the section from National Highway 1 to Cat Lai intersection, Mai Chi Tho Street (the section from Dong Van Cong Street to Vo Chi Cong Street).
- South Direction: Vo Chi Cong Street (from Dong Van Cong Street to Phu My Bridge), Phu My Bridge to the elevated road, from Phu My Bridge to the intersection of Area A South Saigon, Nguyen Van Linh Street (the section from the intersection of Area A South Saigon to National Highway 1).
Map of truck curfew zones and permitted routes for trucks during restricted hours in Ho Chi Minh City.
The limitation of truck operating hours is introduced to address the increasingly complex traffic situation in Ho Chi Minh City. The rapid increase in the number of trucks and their operation without specific time restrictions are considered to be among the main causes of serious traffic congestion on many routes. Therefore, the Department of Transport of Ho Chi Minh City has decided to restrict light truck operations during the day, aiming to shift transport activities mainly to nighttime.
These new regulations, although causing some initial inconvenience, are expected to bring positive effects in the long term in reducing congestion and improving the urban traffic environment. Businesses and drivers need to understand the information about the routes where trucks are permitted during curfew to have appropriate transportation plans, ensuring business operations are not affected and complying with traffic laws.
