Hanoi schools to close if mercury falls below 10 degrees

The city education department said Monday that schools should also be flexible with class timings if the weather is cold but temperatures remain above the threshold.

It explained in a statement: “Schools can decide to let students attend classes later than normal in the morning. In case students show up late because of the cold weather, schools should allow them to attend classes without being penalized.”

Authorities in all 30 districts have been told to review school facilities to ensure students are warm but still get enough light to study.

The mercury in Hanoi dipped to 7.3 degrees on Tuesday morning after falling to 7 degrees on Monday morning.

The entire northern region has been shivering for several days now as winter approaches.

On Tuesday morning the lowest temperature in the region was 1.8 degrees in the mountainous province of Ha Giang.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said the cold weather in the northern region should continue until after Christmas.