VietNamNet Bridge – A strong cold spell brought rare falls of snow to hills in northern Lao Cai, Ha Giang and Cao Bang provinces early yesterday morning, March 16, creating a winter wonderland.

Making snowmen in Viet Nam is a rare event. Snow started falling for the first time in 10 years in Sapa yesterday. Tourists are flocking to enjoy the scene. (Photo: VNS)

Le Minh Hai, deputy director of Lao Cai's Hydrometeorology Centre, said it was unusual for snow to fall at this time of year, which is classed as late spring or early summer.

"Snowfalls normally occur from December to February," he said. Lower down the slopes, the snow was replaced by biting wind and rain.

Viet Nam News Agency on-the-spot correspondents said the snowflakes stirred excitement among locals and tourists in Sa Pa town and Dong Van stone plateau, where covered roofs and trees.

Despite freezing temperatures, flocks of tourists are heading to the hills to watch the event, creating congestion on several roads.

A 65-year-old local resident Sung Thi Mai in Ha Giang Province's Dong Van district said that although the plateau was 1,600m above sea level, this was the first time snow had ever fallen.

The last time snow was recorded in Sa Pa, which is 2,000m above sea level, was in January 2003, but it was only a light fall.

Hai said as the weather was predicted to warm up in coming days, it was likely that there would be no more snow.

The temperature in Ha Noi today may drop to between 9 and 11 degrees Celsius with highs of 12 to 14 degrees.

Nguyen Lan Chau, deputy director of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, told Viet Nam News that temperatures were expected to rise after Friday.

This weekend, Ha Noi expects weather of up to 25 degrees Celsius, followed by a milder cold spell.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News