Unseasonal rains in Ho Chi Minh City and other southern Vietnamese provinces caught local residents off guard on Thursday.

The rains lasted between 30 and 45 minutes in the evening and night across a major portion of the southern region, including Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Phuoc, Long An, and Ben Tre Provinces.

According to Le Dinh Quyet, an official from the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, the unseasonal rainfall was brought about by a subtropical ridge pushing humid air from the East Vietnam Sea toward the mainland.

The unseasonal weather pattern is expected to continue in southern Vietnam through Saturday, Quyet added.

Average temperatures in the region during this period are forecast at 23 to 33 degrees Celsius.

A student is soaked by the unusual rain. Photo: Tuoi Tre

While most residents are surprised by the unusual downpours, owners of local plant and flower gardens worry that the weather pattern may compromise their business preparations for the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, which begins on February 16.

In most southern Vietnamese localities, the yellow apricot blossom, locally known as ‘hoa mai,’ is used as the traditional flower of the Tet festival.

Farmers typically attempt to time their operations so that their apricot flowers are in bloom during the holiday.

A woman protects her children from the rain with an umbrella. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Ut Ha, the owner of a garden in Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, stated that the blooming stage of the yellow apricot blossom will be affected if the rains persist.

Rain and hot weather can cause the flowers to blossom early, while late blooming can happen if the weather is too cold, Ha elaborated.

“As unseasonal rain is unpredictable, it is difficult for gardeners to cope with,” he added.

Aside from the yellow apricot, other Tet flowers are typically planted so that they blossom within 15 days before Tet.

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