People in southern Vietnam woke up on Monday to the lowest temperatures of the year, with mercury dipping to 17.7 degrees Celsius in some places.

Le Dinh Quyet, deputy head of the Southern Meteorological Station, attributed the chilling weather to intense cold air masses from northern areas.

Temperatures dropped to 20.8 degrees Celsius in Ho Chi Minh City this morning, whereas readings in neighboring provinces such as Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh were 17.7 and 18.6 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Parents had to dress their children in sweaters when taking them to school early in the morning, while many people also commuted to work in warm clothes.

Temperatures in southern Vietnam are forecast to remain under 20 degrees Celsius at night in the next two to three days, Quyet said.

Shortly after it gets warmer on December 21, a fresh cold spell will bring temperatures down again, he added.

The northern region is being hit by the coldest weather of the season, with biting cold of 4-7 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas.

The cold front strengthened on Sunday night, sending the lowest temperatures in Hanoi to 9-12 degrees Celsius, and is expected to continue in the next few days.

Temperatures normally hover around 30 degrees Celsius in tropical Vietnam.

Below are some photos taken on the morning of December 18, 2017 in Ho Chi Minh City:

A man smokes to warm himself. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A mother and her daughter are seen in warm clothes. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Adults and children alike dressed in warm clothes are seen on Hoang Sa Street in District 1. Photo: Tuoi Tre

People commute on Mai Chi Tho Street in District 2. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A man stops to put on his jacket due to the cold morning weather. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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