Temperatures in northern Vietnamese provinces are expected to plummet over the next week due to a cold spell, while rain is forecast to dampen vast areas in the southern region in the next few days.

The cold front is currently located north of Vietnam and moving southward, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting has announced, adding that it will start affecting northern localities on Thursday.

The weather pattern in the region, as a result, is anticipated to turn chilly, the center reported.

Temperatures will drop to between 17 and 20 degrees Celsius in northern Vietnam and about 15 to 18 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas on Thursday.

Average lows will drop to 14 to 17 degrees Celsius on Friday and continue falling through Saturday.

Accordingly, the temperatures will fall to 11 degrees Celsius in the Red River Delta and four to seven degrees Celsius in mountainous localities.

Higher-altitude locales may experience a much colder atmosphere as temperature could drop to under three degrees Celsius.

The weather pattern is forecast to linger until January 4, 2019, during which sleet -- rain and snow mixtures -- could occur in several northern provinces.

Rainfall and occasional thunderstorms will also affect the region, as well as north-central provinces this weekend.

In Hanoi, lows will be 10 to 13 degrees Celsius.

The cold snap will also bring about wind speeds of 50km per hour, resulting in rough seas in the northern part of the East Vietnam Sea.

In localities from north-central Quang Tri Province to south-central Binh Thuan Province, heavy downpours are forecast to occur from December 27 to 30.

Rain will batter vast areas of southern Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, on Thursday and Friday, according to Nguyen Kiet, an official from the southern weather station.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!