Tourists pose in the snow in Y Tý Commune, the northern mountainous province of Lào Cai Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Quốc Khánh

HÀ NỘI — The current extreme cold weather brought snowfall in high mountainous areas while hoarfrost was reported in several communes in the high mountainous province of Yên Bái’s Trạm Tấu District.

According to local residents in Y Tý Commune, Ô Quý Hồ Pass and the Fansipan Mountain of Lào Cai Province, the snow was falling quite thickly, covering many houses, gardens and roads since early Monday morning.

In Y Tý Commune, people even saw 15cm-layers of snow yesterday morning.

Snowfall is a rare weather phenomenon in Việt Nam, a country in tropical climate region. Therefore, the rare weather phenomenon already attracted a lot of tourists coming to see and take a photo with snow in Lào Cai Province Monday.

According to the Lào Cai Province’s Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Station, cold weather would continue in the province, causing snowfall in Y Tý Commune, Hoàng Liên Sơn Mountain and then spread to the centre of Sa Pa Town until Tuesday.

In Trạm Tấu District, Yên Bái Province, the hoarfrost mainly appeared in high areas, including villages of Mù, Công, Xà Hồ, Làng Nhì.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, the temperature measured at 6am Monday was minus 0.8 degrees Celsius in Sa Pa Town, Lào Cai Province and minus 0.2 degrees Celsius in Mẫu Sơn Mountain, Lạng Sơn Province. The temperature was 0.5 degree Celsius in Pha Đin Pass in Điện Biên Province; 4.5 degrees Celsius in Lai Châu Province and 9.5 degrees Celsius in Yên Bái Province.

Snow in Y Tý Commune. — VNA/VNS Photo Quốc Khánh

Schools closed

Due to the cold weather, over 153,000 students were off school yesterday in two provinces of Yên Bái and Điện Biên.

In Yên Bái Province, 98,000 students in Nghĩa Lộ Town and districts of Yên Bình, Văn Chấn, Lục Yên, Trạm Tấu, Mù Cang Chải were allowed to stay at home.

The provincial Education and Training Department said the move aimed to ensure the health and safety of the students.

In Điện Biên Province, nearly 55,000 students were also off due to the cold weather.

Previously, the Điện Biên Province’s Department of Education and Training issued a document directing relevant units to strengthen measures for students during the cold snap.

Based on weather forecasts, principals of schools in the province have the right to allow students to stay at home during cold days to ensure their health.

In case students still go to school, the school must arrange warm rooms for them to study and do not organise outdoor activities, the document said.

Meanwhile, the Yên Bái Province’s Education and Training Department ordered the schools to instruct ways to protect students from the conditions.

The schools were also told to re-check classrooms to ensure student could learn in warmth during the cold days, the department said.

In Lào Cai Province, since the beginning of the winter, the Education and Training Office of Sa Pa Town has allowed 12,000 local students to stay at home due to the prolonged cold weather. The students will be back to school when the weather is warmer. — VNS