Southern Vietnam suffers year's hottest heat wave so far

Le Dinh Quyet, head of the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center, on Tuesday said hot days have lasted over the past month due to the impacts of El Niño. Binh Phuoc Province, three hours drive from HCMC, recorded temperatures at 38.5 degrees Celsius on Monday, the highest temperature seen since the beginning of this year.

The center said the peak periods of the heat wave would fall in March and April. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the highest temperatures in the region would be around 36-38 degrees. HCMC may have days when temperatures would be above 38 degrees, and certain southern localities would record temperatures above 39 degrees, it said.

Quyet said the number of hot and sunny days this year would be higher than in previous years due to complex weather patterns. As such, the rainy season may come later this year, around mid-May.

El Niño has also caused droughts, resulting in little water flowing to the Mekong River and salt intrusion, affecting the lives of millions of people. In HCMC, salt intrusion has occured in several rivers in the city, especially the Saigon River.

The Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology Science and Climate Change, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, said Vietnam may observe record-breaking high temperatures within the next 3-4 months, with lower rain levels than in previous years, especially in southern localities.