Bordering China, Lang Son Province is the first area in northern Vietnam to receive cold air outbreaks, and often experiences them most intensely. Early this morning, ice appeared and clung thickly to walls at elevations of nearly 1,200 meters.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting recorded a temperature of 0.2 C at the monitoring station on Mau Son summit, the lowest in the country. By midday, thermometers at some lodging facilities showed temperatures around 3 C.
Low temperatures, light rain, and dense fog created favorable conditions for ice to form from about 100 meters below the summit downward.
Steel wire fences were coated in a thick layer of white ice.
The French once identified Mau Son as an ideal mountain retreat and built several villas there. Today, many guesthouses have been added at the summit, attracting tourists.
On windward slopes, ice accumulated thickly on trees and fell to the ground when blown off by gusts, blanketing the surface in white. The rugged terrain has made access difficult for visitors.
Ice also clung to low-growing grasses and plants. From this afternoon, as temperatures drop again, ice accumulation is expected to increase further.
After hearing reports of ice at Mau Son, a group of tourists set out from Hanoi, around 200 km away, to experience the rare phenomenon.
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the severe cold affecting northern Vietnam will last through Friday. Minimum temperatures are expected to range from 10-12 C, with mountainous areas at 6-9 C and some high-altitude locations dropping below 3 degrees. High mountain regions are advised to be alert for frost and possible snowfall.
