Roads leading to the gateways are left congested as streams of vehicles try to return to their hometowns.
Lines of cars and motorcycles slowly depart the capital.
A long traffic jam can be seen on Belt Road No. 3 at 5 p.m. on January 18, or the 27th day of the last lunar month.
All of roads are fully occupied by automobiles, thereby forcing motorbikes to travel on the pavements or squeeze among queues of automobiles.
Drivers take up to 30 minutes to escape the traffic built up in Linh Dam area before facing more congestion on the national highway.
Motorbikes carrying personal belongings slowly make their way to the gateways.
Despite having to wait in standstill traffic on roads, many people are happy at the prospect of being able to return to their hometown to celebrate Tet.
Locals wait for passenger buses as they head back to their hometowns.
Some vehicles are forced to move on the pavement to avoid traffic congestion on Khuat Duy Tien street.
Nguyen Trai road is flooded with vehicles on the afternoon of January 18.