NDO – As the northern and north central regions languish in the grip of biting cold, frost has appeared in some high mountainous areas as this current cold spell has engulfed the entire regions since January 8.

Since early yesterday morning, at the top of Phja Oac mountain, 1,931 m high in Thanh Cong commune, Nguyen Binh district (Cao Bang province), the temperature dropped to as low as minus 9C.

Thousands of tourists flocked to the top of Phja Oac to admire a rare beauty that usually sonly appears in colder climates.

The fascinating white beauty of the Northeastern mountains and forests covered in ice.

A tourist experiences the icy conditions on top of Phja Oac.

Vegetation covered with frost forms a “coral” like tree on the top of the mountain.

The intense cold spell also brought biting cold to many localities in Quang Ninh Province, especially in the mountainous district of Binh Lieu, where the temperature dropped to only 1C.

In the high mountains of the Cao Ly range in Binh Lieu district, frost appeared. This phenomenon appeared for the first time in 2021 in Binh Lieu.

The scene has attracted many tourists as the temperature is forecast to continue to decrease in the next few days, prolonging the phenomenon.

The temperature in Mau Son tourist area, Loc Binh district, Lang Son province, also dropped to minus 1.4C yesterday morning and even minus 3.4C early this morning, leading to the appearance of frost.

This is the strongest cold air that hit Mau Son since the beginning of this winter.

In Lai Chau province’s famous tourist town of Sa Pa, the mercury dropped to 0.1C this morning (Jan 9) and even hit below zero in mountainous areas like such as O Quy Ho pass and Y Ty commune in Bat Xat district.

Frost covered the top of O Quy Ho pass in Sa Pa town.

Ice appeared in Y Ty commune, Bat Xat.

According to the national weather service, today, January 9, the North and North Central Vietnam will continue to suffer from the biting cold, with the lowest temperature ranging from 7-10C, even dropping to 4-7C and below zero in mountainous areas, accompanied by high possibility of sleet and frost.

In response to the cold conditions, weather forecast centres are asked to increase daily weather updates and reports, particularly those in ethnic languages for ethnic minorities living in remote and mountainous regions, and provides advice to help people working outdoors protect themselves from cold-weather hazards.

Local authorities are urged to inform tourists on ice or frost-prone areas. Special warnings must be issued for tourists at at-risk areas. Meanwhile, schools are advised to cancel classes and outdoor activities. It is forecasted that this cold air spell will last until January 12.

Photo: NDO