Over 100 people in various stages of rest in the waiting room of Aeon Mall Long Bien on June 2, 2023. Photo courtesy of Aeon Mall
According to a mall spokesperson, people have been turning up in large numbers following blackouts in many neighborhoods in Long Bien District. Aeon has set up a separate waiting room for visitors to rest and eat.
The northern region experienced intense heat this past week due to a tropical disturbance and Foehn wind. Temperatures peaked on Wednesday and Thursday. Muong La weather station in the northern mountainous province of Son La reported a maximum of 43.4 degrees Celsius Wednesday, its highest temperature in May in history.
But the record barely lasted a day as the next day saw the mercury climb to 43.8 degrees.
The heat has sent power demand surging, and authorities are resorting to load shedding to ensure the grid’s safety. According to the Hanoi Power Corporation, consumption in May was 75.4 million kWh, 22.5% more than in April.
Dozens of people at Aeon Mall at noon on June 3, 2023.
People in Long Bien District said they had no choice but to go to the mall after announcements about power cuts in their neighborhoods between 8a.m. and midnight on Saturday.
Luong Ngoc Anh (white t-shirt), 19, of Hoang Mai District, said a sudden blackout occurred in her neighborhood in the morning. After knowing that Aeon Mall Long Bien had an air-conditioned room for people to use, her family decided to visit it.
“Our family has to find a cool place for my nephew to eat and rest; he cannot cope with this heat.”
Pham Ngoc Mai of Hai Ba Trung District brought her family to the mall at 10a.m. after power was cut without notice in her neighborhood. The family brought clothes and snacks in preparation to stay the whole day if needed.
“Luckily, it was just a temporary blackout,” she said.
Many families living in districts like Hoang Mai, Cau Giay, Thanh Xuan, and Ba Dinh come to the mall for shopping, amusement and rest during daytime.
The seats in the mall are always taken as people stay there during the hottest hours.
Dam Manh Tuan, operational director of the northern office of Aeon Vietnam, said the number of visitors skyrockets on hot days, including people from nearby regions and tourists. Food and beverages like coffee, juices, yogurt, and ice creams are among the most consumed.
“We added more tables and chairs for visitors to sit.
“We have also extended our opening hours to 11p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays until the hot season ends.”
On Saturday temperatures came down by one to three degrees Celsius. At 1p.m. that day only six northern cities and provinces recorded temperatures of 36 degrees or more. In Hanoi it was around 40 degrees and streets were deserted.
The National Center for Hydrometeorology Forecasting said mountainous regions would experience rains of 20-40mm, and the delta region would also cool off after Sunday.
In June temperatures in Vietnam are forecast to be 0.5-1 degree higher than average while rainfall in the northern and central regions is predicted to be 10-20% lower than usual.
Families take their children to malls in Hanoi to avoid the scorching heat in June 2023. Video by VnExpress/Anh Phu, Huyen Vu
