In Hanoi, the peak of the heatwave brings average temperatures of 36-37 degrees Celsius, with the mercury sometimes soaring to a scorching 42 degrees Celsius. On Le Quang Dao Street, Nam Tu Liem District, the rising heat creates an illusion of water puddles on the road.

Passersby in Hanoi struggle under the sweltering heat, with temperatures reaching up to 42 degrees Celsius. 

Most residents venturing outside are covered head to toe to avoid the sun, with some even using umbrellas for additional protection. Dinh Tien Hoang Street by Hoan Kiem Lake appears deserted, with few vehicles passing by despite it being midweek.

Dinh Tien Hoang Street remains deserted in the midday heat, with temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius.

At the Ho Tung Mau intersection, some road users seek refuge in the shade, pressing on road markings to avoid the sun while waiting at red lights. The longer the wait, the more impatient motorcyclists and cyclists become.

A worker on Thang Long Avenue is drenched in sweat as he toils under the blazing sun. 

Passengers on Giai Phong Street hide behind bus stops to escape the sun.

During lunchtime, many people prefer ordering food via phone apps instead of braving the heat, leading to a surge in food delivery services. A shipper shared that he had to deliver up to six orders in the same area during peak hours. Motorbike taxi drivers rest under tree shades or bus stops, ready to pick up passengers. Some take quick naps under overpasses or elevated roads.

Delivery men shield themselves under trees from the intense heat. 

A delivery man uses a large umbrella mounted on his motorbike to shield himself and his packages from the intense heat. 

The heatwave causes rapid dehydration, making the elderly and children especially vulnerable to heat stroke. Coffee shops and sidewalk refreshment stalls are bustling with customers, and some businesses have installed misting systems to cool down the outdoor temperature by 5-7 degrees Celsius.

Customers flock to coffee shops and refreshment stalls equipped with misting systems to cool down in the scorching heat. 

Grace (white T-shirt), a visitor from the UK, continuously fans herself while walking with friends in Hanoi's Old Quarter. "I expected the weather to be harsh before coming to Vietnam, but I didn't think it would be this hot. I ended up buying a small handheld fan from a souvenir shop," she said.

Residents sprinkle water on sidewalks to cool the stone surfaces, making the heat more bearable for passersby.

Manh Hung