HÀ NỘI — Saturday marks the first day of the National Day holiday from August 31 to September 3. As people flee urban centres for the four-day break, roads leading out of cities have been overwhelmed, causing severe congestion.

Below are some photos that captured the gridlock in Hà Nội and Bến Tre this morning, and HCM City on August 30.

Severe congestion on the elevated Ring Road 3 in Hà Nội on Saturday morning. — VNA/VNS Photo

A snail's pace of traffic is leaving Hà Nội on the Pháp Vân - Cầu Giẽ Expressway, with cars lined up for kilometres. — VNA/VNS Photo

Traffic police are working to manage the heavy traffic at the Pháp Vân - Cầu Giẽ toll station in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo

Vehicles inch their way through the congested An Dương Intersection in District 12, HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo

A view of the An Dương Interestion from above. — VNA/VNS Photo

Traffic is equally congested at the An Phú Intersection in HCM City's Thủ Đức City, with thousands of vehicles bumper-to-bumper trying to exit the city. — VNA/VNS Photo

Vehicles travelling from Bến Tre to Tiền Giang provinces are lined up in a long queue, patiently waiting to cross the congested Rạch Miễu Bridge. — VNA/VNS Photo

Some cars encroach on the motorcycle lane, worsening the situation on Rạch Miễu Bridge. — VNA/VNS Photo