In recent days, the North has experienced a prolonged cold spell with temperatures dropping sharply, with many mountainous areas recording temperatures below 0°C.
On the night of January 11, many high mountainous areas in the North such as Phia Oac (Cao Bang), Ta Xua (Bac Yen, Son La), Lao Than peak (Y Ty, Lao Cai), La Pan Tan pass (Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai) recorded frost.
This is the first time in the winter of 2024-2025 that frost has appeared on Lao Than peak, while Fansipan (Sa Pa, Lao Cai) has recorded this phenomenon many times. In Ta Xua (Son La), low temperatures have caused frost to cover the mountain top.
Ms. Nguyen Thu Huong (25 years old, Hanoi) shared: "I had planned in advance to go to Sa Pa to hunt for ice. This is a rare experience so my friends and I could not miss it. Although the temperature is very cold, the natural scenery is wonderful. When I saw the branches covered with ice and snow, I felt like I was lost in a fairyland. Breathing the fresh air and watching this scene made me feel really relaxed."
Mr. Pham Van Long (32 years old, Lao Cai) said: "We live in the mountains so we are used to the cold, but this year it is much colder. However, I am happy to see many tourists coming here, helping the local economy to flourish. Many restaurants and motels are full of guests."
Not only young people, many photographers also took the opportunity to capture unique moments of nature during this cold spell.
Tran Van Nam, a freelance photographer, said: "These days, the landscape seems to be covered in a shimmering coat of ice, which is ideal for composing. However, moving around is quite difficult due to slippery roads, so you need to be very careful. I feel the harshness of the weather but I cannot resist the enchanting beauty of nature."
Besides the excitement of tourists, local people are facing many difficulties. Ms. Hoang Thi Lan (58 years old, Sa Pa) confided: "The frost looks really beautiful, but my family is worried about the buffalo and cows in the barn. It's so cold that we can easily freeze to death. We have to collect straw, cover the barn tightly and prepare food reserves. I hope the weather warms up soon so that we don't have to work so hard."
However, in addition to the joy of tourists, the severe cold spell also causes a lot of damage to agricultural production and livestock. Many households in the highlands are facing the risk of livestock freezing to death and crops being damaged by frost. Local authorities have advised people to proactively take measures to protect livestock and crops from the cold.
It is forecasted that in the next few days, the cold air will continue to maintain, and the temperature in the North is unlikely to increase.
Experts recommend that people keep their bodies warm, especially the elderly and children, and ensure safety when participating in traffic in bad weather conditions.
