Northern Vietnam nears freezing point as severe cold persists

Temperatures across much of northern Vietnam fell sharply early on Thursday, dropping by four to 10 degrees Celsius compared with previous days.

At Mau Son Mountain peak in Lang Son Province, more than 1,500 meters above sea level, the temperature fell to just 0.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest recorded so far this winter.

From late Wednesday night into early Thursday, minimum temperatures at weather stations from Thanh Hoa northward dropped below 15 degrees Celsius.

Several mountainous areas recorded lows of between four and six degrees Celsius, while the northeastern region, the northern midland, and the Red River Delta saw mercury ranging from nine to 11 degrees Celsius.

In Hanoi, temperatures early on Thursday stood at around 11 degrees Celsius.

Severe cold is affecting northern Vietnam and north-central Thanh Hoa Province, with particularly harsh conditions in mountainous areas.

During this cold spell, minimum temperatures across the northern region and Thanh Hoa are expected to range from 11 to 14 degrees Celsius, while mountainous areas may see eight to 11 degrees Celsius.

In high mountain regions, temperatures could fall below five degrees Celsius, increasing the risk of frost.

Areas from Nghe An to Hue in the north-central region are forecast to turn colder, with minimum temperatures ranging from 14 to 17 degrees Celsius.

Forecasters said the cold air mass would continue to cover the northern region on Thursday.

Temperatures in northern Vietnam and Thanh Hoa are expected to drop further on Thursday night and Friday morning compared to Thursday morning.

Under the influence of the cold snap, light rain and scattered showers were reported early on Thursday in several northern and north-central localities, including Hanoi, where cold conditions were accompanied by intermittent drizzle.

Meanwhile, rain and showers are expected on Thursday and Friday from Ha Tinh to Da Nang and in parts of the Central Highlands.

Some areas may experience moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and strong gusts.

At sea, rough conditions have been reported across multiple regions.

Strong northeast winds and high waves are affecting the Gulf of Tonkin and the northern East Vietnam Sea, with similar conditions forecast for the waters along central and southern Vietnam over the next two days, posing risks to maritime activities.