In the past few days, working people light up fires along Ho Chi Minh City’s streets to warm themselves up in the wee hours, which is quite an uncommon sight for one of the country’s hottest cities.

In the past several days, the temperature in Ho Chi Minh City has occasionally dropped to 18 degrees Celsius in the wee hours at a time when locals are poised to celebrate Tet (traditional Lunar New Year.)

Tet falls on February 19 this year.

Migrant working people defy the cold in the small hours to get ready for a day’s work and save more for their upcoming Tet or trips back home.

Groups of construction workers, “xe om” (taxi drivers) and peddlers in District 6’s Kinh Duong Vuong street, District 8’s Nguyen Van Linh, Binh Tan District’s National Highway 1 and District 9’s Thu Duc intersection were seen grouping over    blazing fires at midnight on Saturday. After the flames die out, piles of ashes are left behind, which are typically common in the country’s northern and central provinces only.

Those who have put layers on themselves constantly rub their hands, with their lips trembling as if they are experiencing a cold spell in a northern province.

The temperature on early Friday morning is shown as 19 degrees Celsius at an information board on Nguyen Huu Canh street in Binh Thanh District. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

 Tran Quang Anh, who earns his living as a “xe om” driver around the Thu Duc Intersection in the past 15 years, shared he has rarely experienced a cold spell like this year.

Many people deem the low temperatures quite “interesting,” as it is not common to feel cold in this tropical city.

People say they now can relish in the cold of Hanoi or the Central Highlands city of Da Lat right in the middle of the southern city, which is generally plagued by uncomfortable heat, smoke, and pollution.

Four men are pictured chatting over a fire and cups of sizzling tea. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

Nguyen Van Lam, a seasoned “xe om” (motorbike taxi) driver on District 8’s Nguyen Van Linh street builds a fire while seeking customers. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

Tran Quang Anh, a "xe om" driver in the past 15 years, said he has rarely experienced such a cold spell in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

The warmth of a fire lit up by an elderly woman who ekes out a living by manually processing vegetables at Binh Dien wholesale market in District 8. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

A laborer is seen taking rest over the warmth of a fire near by. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

A middle-aged couple relish in the warmth of a fire while waiting for dawn to break to begin their day's work. Photo: Tuoi Tre.