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Snowflakes were observed at around 3:30 p.m. at the 3,143-meter-high peak in Sa Pa Ward, lasting for roughly five minutes. The snowfall was light and melted quickly, leaving only a thin trace.
Light snow falls on the summit of Fansipan on the afternoon of Dec. 18, 2025. Video by Thu Huong
Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina, has experienced repeated frost and ice buildup over the past month. Site managers say that based on previous winters, including heavier snow events in 2019 and 2021, snowfall on the mountain often begins with brief flurries before becoming thicker and more widespread if cold conditions persist.
Meteorologists explain that snow forms when moist air is lifted in low temperatures, causing water vapor in clouds to freeze into ice crystals. If temperatures remain near or below 0 degrees Celsius throughout the crystals’ descent, they reach the ground as snow rather than melting into rain.
Northern Vietnam has been affected by a strong cold air mass since Dec. 14, though the system has begun to weaken in recent days, allowing temperatures to gradually rise. The lowest temperatures recorded in the region on Dec. 18 were about 12 degrees Celsius in Sin Ho in Lai Chau Province, Pha Din (Dien Bien) and Mau Son (Lang Son).
AccuWeather forecasts show Hanoi warming by around 2 degrees Celsius on Dec. 19, with temperatures ranging from 18 to 27 degrees. High-altitude areas above 1,500 meters, including Sa Pa in Lao Cai, are expected to remain cooler at around 10 to 16 degrees Celsius.
