Many parents in Hanoi are desperate to find a babysitter for their children as nursery and primary schools are closed as temperatures dropped to below 10 degrees on January 30.

The temperature was 9.9 degrees in Hanoi in the morning as a cold spell continues to cover the northern region and north central coast. The mountainous areas may have frost from January 30 to February 5. 

Hanoi Department of Education and Training asked sub-departments to have measures to protect the pupils. Nursery and primary schools can let pupils stay home.

The cold weather is also worrying many families. Parents that aren’t so hindered by work can take a day off with their children. However, many parents are struggling to find a babysitter. 

When it was reported that the temperature in Hanoi could drop to below 10 degrees for days, many families called relatives or neighbours in case their children didn't have to go to schools.

Le Thanh Hang, a local in Hai Ba Trung District, said she had to wake up early to look at the weather forecast at 6 am.

"My family’s small. My husband has to go to work on time and can't have any leeway. I don't know what to do when my children stayed home. I thought of bringing them to my office but they are still too small so I had to take a day off," she said.

Le Thanh Tung from Cau Giay District has his parents living nearby. However, he didn't know that the pupils had a day off until he reached school. He had to return home to drop off his children and was late to work.

Dtinews/Lao Dong