Hanoi shivers as temperature drops to 12 degrees

The cold spell, which has blanketed the north, has sent the mercury in Hanoi plummeting to 10-12 degrees Celsius in the last few days.
In the early mornings people shiver on the streets in the cold wind unless they have warm clothing. People on motorbikes have to wear extra jackets, scarves and gloves to stay warm.

On a street in Long Bien District, workers warm themselves over a small fire.

A man tries to shield himself from a cold wind.

In the cold, people have to bundle themselves in layers of clothes when leaving home.

Two women do their best to keep their hands warm while walking along Hoan Kiem Lake.

Hoang Ha Anh of Dong Anh District takes a photo of a friend on Le Thai To Street. She said she had to borrow her friend’s jacket to ward off the cold.

Though it is not raining, workers cutting weeds on the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake don raincoats to keep warm.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the cold spell has caused temperatures across northern Vietnam to drop since last weekend.
The first major cold spell this winterevenbrought snow to Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest mountain, in Sa Pa last weekend, and temperatures continue to hover around three degrees. The cold spell is expected to last several days, with temperatures likely to fall further.