Temperatures in Northern Vietnam began to rise this morning as the cold air weakened. The lowest temperature recorded was 4,2 degrees Celsius in Sa Pa (Lao Cai), which is over 1.500 m above sea level. After two days of ice, Mau Son peak (Lang Son), approximately 1.200 m high, reached 7,9 degrees this morning, an 8 degree Celsius increase from yesterday morning.

Following this warming trend were Moc Chau (Son La) at 7,6 degrees, up over one degree; Bac Ha (Lao Cai) at 7,8 degrees, up 0,7 degrees; Dong Van (Tuyen Quang) at 6,9 degrees, up 1,4 degrees; Tam Dao (Phu Tho) at 7,2 degrees, up 2,3 degrees; and Nguyen Binh (Cao Bang) at 7,8 degrees, up 1,2 degrees Celsius.

Hanoians use heaters to combat the cold, evening of 23/1. Photo: Gia Chinh.

The lowlands also experienced a rise in temperatures. In Hanoi, the Ba Vi station recorded 10,8 degrees, an increase of 1,2 degrees Celsius; the four stations of Lang, Ha Dong, Hoai Duc, and Son Tay all registered above 11 degrees. Other lowland provinces saw temperatures rise above 10 degrees Celsius, including Hung Yen, Thai Binh (Hung Yen), Nam Dinh, and Nho Quan (Ninh Binh).

The highest temperatures today in Northern Vietnam were around 14-16 degrees Celsius, meaning they still fell within the threshold for intense cold in the lowlands (daily average of 15 degrees or below) and severe cold in mountainous areas (daily average of 13 degrees or below).

Central Vietnam also saw temperatures increase by 1-3 degrees Celsius compared to yesterday. Thanh Hoa recorded 12 degrees Celsius in Yen Dinh, while other locations like Hoi Xuan, Sam Son, Bai Thuong, Nhu Xuan, and Tinh Gia registered 13 degrees. In Nghe An, Tay Hieu was 13 degrees, and Tuong Duong, Do Luong, and Vinh were 15 degrees Celsius.

Other areas included Huong Son (Ha Tinh) at 14 degrees, Ky Anh at 15 degrees, Hoanh Son at 16 degrees; Tuyen Hoa, Ba Don (Quang Binh) at 15 degrees, Dong Hoi at 16 degrees; Khe Sanh (Quang Tri) at 15 degrees, Con Co at 18 degrees; and A Luoi (Hue City) at 15 degrees, Nam Dong at 18 degrees Celsius.

According to US-based Accuweather, Hanoi's temperature today is forecast to be 15-16 degrees, rising to 18-21 degrees tomorrow, and reaching 18-25 degrees Celsius by the middle of next week. The high-altitude area of Sa Pa is expected to reach a maximum of 18 degrees Celsius tomorrow.

A strong cold air mass moved in from the evening of 20/1, plunging Northern Vietnam into deep cold by 22/1. Mau Son dropped to minus 0,1 degrees Celsius, with ice present all day on the mountain peak; Ba Vi (Hanoi) registered 9 degrees Celsius. Compared to the cold spell from 5-8/1, this recent period was colder and more humid, with persistent cloud cover and continuously low temperatures day and night. The average daily temperatures were lower, creating a more biting and prolonged cold sensation than the previous spell.

Gia Chinh

>>See detailed temperatures for the next 7 days here.