Ice, frost engulf northern Vietnam mountaintops

Northern Vietnam entered the third day of a severe cold wave on Wednesday, as temperatures remain low both during the day and at night. Several high-altitude locations saw temperatures falling below zero degrees Celsius, and high moisture levels mean the formation of ice.

The peak of Phia Oac in Cao Bang’s Nguyen Binh District saw ice being formed at around 2 p.m. on Monday. By the afternoon, the ice began to fall off surfaces due to the strong winds. By Wednesday morning, high moisture levels and fog also caused ice to form at locations 1,500 m above sea level, though they were not as thick as in previous days.

The peak of Mau Son in Lang Son has been consistently seeing ice formations from Monday afternoon. Due to temperatures falling to nearly minus 3 degrees, the layers of ice were thick.

Located in Quang Ninh’s Binh Lieu District, the peak of Cao Ly, 1,429 m above sea level, also saw ice forming from Monday night. Also in Quang Ninh, the Dong Pagoda at the Yen Tu site also saw ice and frost forming on Tuesday, but they were gone on Wednesday due to low moisture levels.

Ice covered trees in Cao Ly mountain peak in Quang Ninh Province, Jan. 24, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tan

Ha Giang’s Thuong Phung and Xin Cai communes, both located 1,500 m above sea leverl, saw ice layers as thich as 3 cm on Wednesday morning, covering tree branches and grasses on the ground.

In Lao Cai, the O Quy Ho Pass, located 2,000 m above sea level, also saw ice forming on Wednesday morning. Temperatures fell to minus 1 degree, and the scene of ice covering the trees and blades of grass has attracted many people coming to take photos.

Ice covers branches in Ha Giang Province on Jan. 24, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Thuan

Nguyen Van Huong, head of the weather forecast department under the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said the severe cold wave would last until Jan. 26, and ice will continue to form on mountainous areas in the north for a few more days afterwards.

After Jan. 26, the ice will gradually disappear.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday called for localities in northern and central Vietnam to instruct people on measures to combat the cold.

This is the second severe cold wave this winter after an earlier one that lasted from Dec. 17 to 22.

Then, Mau Son recorded temperatures of minus 2.5 degrees, the lowest in 11 years.