The number of passengers at Ho Chi Minh City’s airport, railway and bus stations has skyrocketed when the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) festival is approaching. Most of them return home for reunion with their families during the nation’s biggest and longest holiday.

At the Tan Son Nhat International Airport on January 25, hundreds of passengers queued up for check-in.

According to the airport’s director Dang Tuan Tu, those who book domestic flights on these days range from 22,000-23,000 per day, nearly doubling the normal days’ figure. Meanwhile, international terminals welcome up to 14,000 arrivals per day compared to 11,000 as before.

Tu revealed that the airport is about to complete its upgrade and expansion this year to avoid possible overloading.

At Mien Dong (Eastern) and Mien Tay (Western) bus stations, passengers were also reported to skyrocket. They were here to return to central and northern provinces after a year of working away from home.

The number of passengers at Mien Tay bus station on January 25 stood at 32,000 and may climb to 53,000 in the next few days, said an official of the station.

The municipal Department of Transport has closely collaborated with its counterparts of Dong Nai and Tien Giang provinces in planting more road signs and increasing taskforces to guide vehicles at intersections where congestions may occur.-VNA