A thin layer of frost covered the summit of Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest peak, in the northern province of Lao Cai on Saturday morning following an intensifying cold front.

According to the Lao Cai Province Hydrometeorological Station, the temperature on Fansipan peak early Saturday morning was around two degrees Celsius, cold enough to create a thin layer of frost covering paths, attractions, and trees.

This marked the first frost of the winter season on Fansipan this year. 

The frost formed a delicate coating across stone steps, wooden floors, trees, and pathways.

Temperatures in both Sa Pa, a tourist town in Lao Cai where visitors stay for trips to Fansipan Peak, and on the peak itself are expected to remain low in the coming days, with the possibility of further frost.

Earlier, on Friday afternoon, visitors at Fansipan witnessed a remarkable natural phenomenon -- a large halo surrounding the Buddha statue atop the mountain. 

A photographer captured this striking sight.

A halo surrounds the Buddha statue on top of Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest peak, in the northern province of Lao Cai, November 22, 2024. Photo: Bao Long

At 3,143 meters tall, Fansipan is the focal point of the 280km Hoang Lien Son mountain range.

Dubbed the ‘Roof of Indochina,’ Fansipan is also the highest mountain on the Indochina Peninsula, which includes Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Both Sa Pa and Fansipan are entering their most scenic season of the year, when floating seas of clouds create stunning views.

During cold spells, visitors may observe transparent ice crystals covering the paths and attractions in high mountains in the early morning. 

As the sun rises, the sea of clouds forms, turning the view from the top of Fansipan into a breathtaking fairyland.

A sea of cloud covers the summit of Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest peak, in the northern province of Lao Cai, November 22, 2024. Photo: Bao Long

At the end of the year, Sa Pa is hosting its biggest tourism promotion program, offering up to 50-percent discounts on destinations, accommodations, and transportation services.

Popular tourist sites in Sa Pa, such as the Ta Phin rock garden and the rose garden, are offering free entry, while the Cat Cat tourist village provides free experiences with local northwest cuisine, along with activities like beeswax painting and weaving.

Sa Pa will also hold several events to attract tourists during the final months of the year, including the Fansipan Stone Lotus Flower Festival, the Vietnam Mountain Marathon, and the Cherry Blossom Festival at O Long Tea Hill in O Quy Ho Ward.

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