Northern peaks get frosty, icy and pretty

Ice formed on leafless plants on the Phia Oac Mountain in Cao Bang Province at around 2 a.m. The ice layer got thicker after it rained heavily in the morning.

A mountain resident’s motorbike also gets an icy makeover.

Atop the Mau Son Mountain in Lang Son Province, frost and heavy rain appeared at 3 a.m. along with thick fog.

Dao Dinh Duyen, from rural district of Yen Mo in Ninh Binh Province, went nearly 300 km to Mau Son to take photos of ice and snow.
“I went with 13 other people. Although there was only ice and frost with no snow, the scenery was very beautiful,” Duyen said.

Mau Son recorded sub-zero temperatures. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said this was the area with the lowest temperature in the northern region.

Tourists photograph ice clinging to plants on the summit of Mau Son. The cold air began to pour into Vietnam from China starting Saturday. Meteorologists said Sunday and Monday are expected to be the coldest days before temperature starts to rise again on Tuesday.

In Lai Chau Province, frost started dusting the O Quy Ho Heaven Gate in Son Binh Commune, Tam Duong District around 1 a.m. Sunday. The temperature dropped to 0 degrees Celsius and the mountain area experienced heavy rain and strong winds.
Nguyen Thanh Cong and his wife from central coastal town of Nha Trang flew into Hanoi on Feb. 17 when they heard that the north would receive the strongest cold spell. After visiting the capital for two days, they took a bus to the northern town of Sa Pa Saturday evening. They were able to witness frost for the first time. “I really enjoy the view though I am chilled to the bone up here,” said Cong’s wife.
Seeing many other tourists also flock to Sa Pa, Cong said he was happy that tourism was recovering strongly after the latest Covid outbreak.
“Since I am a tourist, I am glad to see ice and frost. But I feel sorry for the locals since the bitter cold will make their lives miserable, especially for those raising cattle and growing vegetables,” Cong said.

People wait in line to ride the cable car to the top of Fansipan. The highest peak in Indochina recorded heavy rain this morning, but the temperature was 2 degrees Celsius and there was no frost.

Icicles hang from peach trees laden with blossoms in Xin Cai Commune, Meo Vac District, Ha Giang Province.
Hoang Van Chat, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Xin Cai Commune, said frost has not appeared on a large scale, but has been concentrated in a few highland villages like Lung Van Chai and Lung Thung.
According to meteorologists, the last few days have seen the coldest wave since the beginning of the winter-spring season of 2021-2022. There have been nine cold spells since the end of December, with the coldest causing temperatures to plummet to 2 below zero on Mt Fansipan in Lao Cai. In March and April average temperatures across the country would be around 0.5 degrees lower than usual, meteorologists have said.