Temperature in Sa Pa, a tourist town in the northern Vietnamese province of Lao Cai, has plummeted to three degrees Celsius due to the effect of a strong cold front.

The cold snap began affecting northern localities early on Thursday morning, the National Center for Hydro-meterological Forecasting reported.

As of 6:00 am, the lowest temperature was measured at 13-16 degrees Celsius in the Red River Delta, 10 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas, and below five degrees Celsius at higher altitudes.

The lowest temperature on Thursday morning was recorded at 1.1 degrees Celsius at Mau Son mountain area in Lang Son Province, three degrees Celsius in Sa Pa, Lao Cai Province, and 4.8 degrees Celsius at Pha Din Pass in Dien Bien Province.

According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, many residents in Sa Pa had to stop farming due to the frigid weather, while others rushed to reinforce their barns to keep their domestic animals warm.

Some took their cows and buffaloes to locations at lower altitudes to avoid the cold.

"We often grow vegetables during this time of the year. But when it gets too cold, we can only stay at home and do embroidery by the fire," said Tan Thi May, a local farmer.

About 13,000 cows and buffaloes are being raised by 4,500 households in Sa Pa, said Tran Thi Lan Huong, deputy head of the town’s economic bureau.

Seven percent of these households do not have barns that are capable of protecting their cattle against low temperatures, Huong continued, adding that they are advised to take the animals to a lower altitude.

Other farmers are recommended to keep their cattle indoors and store sufficient food during this period.

Family members sit by a firewood stove in Sa Pa, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam, December 31, 2020. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

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