In pictures: Tan Son Nhat Airport packed before Tet

Thousands queued up at the Tan Son Nhat Airport to board domestic flights over the weekend.

About one million people are expected to depart HCM City to other parts of the country to reunite with their families for Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

Thousands queued up at the Tan Son Nhat Airport to board domestic flights over the weekend.

Airport director Dang Tuan Tu said there were 22,000 to 23,000 people boarding flights per day over the last several days, nearly double the normal traffic.

International terminals were welcoming up to 14,000 arrivals per day compared to the normal 11,000, he added.

Tu also said that the airport is about to complete an upgrade and expansion project this year that is designed to avoid possible overloading in the coming years.

At the Mien Dong (Eastern) and Mien Tay (Western) bus stations, people returning to central and northern provinces after years of working away from home are expected to boost crowds dramatically, officials said.

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

The municipal Department of Transport has said it is closely collaborating with counterparts in Dong Nai and Tien Giang provinces in planting more road signs and increasing task forces that will guide vehicles at congestion-prone intersections.

On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc called on Ha Noi authorities and bus station officials to mobilise all resources to ensure people are able to return home on time for Tet.

Visiting the Nuoc Ngam and Giap Bat bus stations in Ha Noi, he offered Tet greetings to passengers and officials manning road and rail traffic administrations.

The Deputy PM asked police officers in these departments to monitor and coordinate traffic at hot spots and strictly punish violators.

He also instructed bus station officials to make sure that prices do not go up dramatically and to punish bus owners who overload their vehicles.

They should be especially strict with those who are operating services illegally, he said.

Some photos taken at the airport on January 25-26:

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The parking area at the airport.

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In the domestic terminal, thousands of people waited in long queues.

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Passing the first door, passengers had to queue again to perform other procedures.

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The baggage acceptance area was very crowded.

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Tired faces.

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All counters operated at full capacity.

"I came here very early and have queued for over 40 minutes but there are still a lot of people in front of me," said a passenger of the HCM City - Hanoi flight said.

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