According to the Vietnam Register (VR), nearly 25 percent of registration chains suspended operation due to an investigation of bribery scandals in the registration system, or an inability to satisfy requirements to operate, among other reasons.

VR has predicted that serious congestion may occur in March and April. 

In Hanoi, cars have to wait in long queues in front of registration centers.

At the 29.06V Registration Center on Road 70, in Tam Hiep commune in Thanh Tri district, only two of four inspection lines are operational. 

Hoang Trung Liem, deputy director of the center, said though officers who were out on bail were mobilized, the center still lacked 50 percent of its workforce.

Because of the staff shortage, only 100-120 cars can be registered each day. On February 28, 30 cars were seen queuing at the center, and many others on Road 70.

Chu Thi Nguyet from Thanh Tri district told VietNamNet that she got a license plate on February 27. 29.06V was the third registration center she visited on February 28 after Yen So and Lien Ninh centers refused to serve her as they were crowded.

Located six kilometers from 29.06V center, the 29.01V in Lien Ninh commune in Thanh Tri district has four lines, but only one is operational with four officers. 

Only 70 cars can be inspected and registered a day. On days when officers are summoned by police, there are fewer officers, and the number of cars to be registered will decrease.

A driver from Gia Lam district said he was warned about congestion at registration centers, so he left home very early to have his car registered. 

However, this did not help. A number of centers in Gia Lam district have had their officers arrested. He decided to go to 29.10D center in Den Lu, but the center had closed. After that, he drove to the 29.01V center, but he saw a long queue there, though it was only 7.30am.

Congestion was seen at the 29.03V center in Lang Thuong Road in Dong Da district. Drivers told VietNamNet that they had been there since midnight waiting for their turn to have their cars registered.

N. Huyen