The intense cold spell on January 24 caused temperatures in the Mau Son tourist resort of Lang Son province to drop to 1.4oC. White frost nipped at Mau Son Mountain Peak.

Ha Van Tien, director of the provincial Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Centre, says temperatures in Mau Son resort, at 1,500m above sea level, have fallen below 1oC even to minus 0.2oC for the past three consecutive nights, causing frost to set in on the mountain peak. All bushes and footpaths were covered in light white frost.

According to Tien, the temperature in Mau Son is forecast to drop further in the coming days, with more bitter overnight lows when the cold spell continues in the north.

On January 25, locals and tourists alike flocked to Mau Son Mountain Peak to see the frost. Dang Tang Phuc, a 74-year-old local, says never before have the ethnic Dao people celebrated the lunar New Year festival in such cold weather.

Temperatures tumbled to 4-7oC in the highlands, 9oC in the midlands and around 10oC in the lowlands. Night temperatures in the capital city of Hanoi also fell to 9-10oC.

Weather experts have warned that this strong cold spell will last 4-6 days, and that residents of northern and north-central provinces should take measures to protect the elderly and children, as well as livestock.

Source: VOV