Temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius will affect the northern and central regions until June 6 according to the National Meteorology and Hydrology Centre’s forecast.

The heat wave poses a high risk of forest fire for a number of provinces, including Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Binh Dinh and Long An.

On May 28, a fire started in the protection forest in Trieu Loc, Chau Loc and Hoang Khanh communes in northern Thanh Hoa province, the second within two days. Almost 2,000 people were mobilised to extinguish the fire, Nhan Dan newspaper reported.

In northern Tuyen Quang province, low water levels in local reservoirs have led to 128 hectares of spring paddy fields drying out.

Meanwhile, Da Lat city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong is suffering from heavy rains and high humidity, which have fuelled the spread of crop diseases.

VNS photographer Viet Thanh captured various images in which people in Ha Noi shield themselves from the scorching summer heat:

VNA/VNS