The heat wave throughout Vietnam, reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius in the north, will continue before cooling in the latter half of the week, the National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center has said.

Over the past few days, the highest temperatures in northwestern provinces and north and mid-central areas have ranged from 35 to 38 degrees on average.

The temperature was particularly high in central Nghe An Province, reaching 39.1 degrees in Quy Chau and Con Cuong Districts and 40 degrees in Tuong Duong District on Sunday.    

On Monday, the heat will continue in these areas and the hot weather will last until the end of Tuesday, April 1, before finally cooling off.

Meanwhile, Hanoi has experienced less hot weather over the last few days. At 11:00 am (local time) this morning, the temperature in the capital was 27 degrees, which was forecast to rise to 32 degrees by 1:00 pm.

There may be showers and thunderstorms in some areas in the northern region in coming days, the center said.

In the southern region, Binh Phuoc Province has suffered the hottest temperatures over the past several days, with temperatures rising to 39 degrees, the Southern Hydro-Meteorological Station reported.

In southeastern provinces, Ho Chi Minh City, and localities near the border with Cambodia, the highest temperatures have ranged between 35-37 degrees so far.

At 11:00 am this morning, the temperature in HCMC was 33 degrees, predicted to climb to 34 degrees by 12:00 pm.  Amidst the heatwave there will be small rains in some areas in the southern region, such as Ca Mau Province, Phu Quoc Island District of Kien Giang Province, and along the border with Cambodia in coming days.

In HCMC, there may be scattered showers in some areas. In general, the hot weather in southern Vietnam will ease in the latter half of this week, the station said.