The Hanoi Department of Education and Training will allow local students to stay home if temperatures continue to drop due to the ongoing effects of an intense cold snap.

Accordingly, primary and kindergarten students are allowed to stay home if the temperature falls below 10 degrees Celsius. The same will apply to secondary school students if the mercury drops below 7 degrees Celsius.

"Parents can watch the weather forecast at 6:00 am on the VTV1 channel to get updated on the temperature," the department said.

Due to the cold front, average lows in the capital will drop to about 7 to 11 degrees Celsius tomorrow [January 22], which is extremely cold by local standards and may affect students' health, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

In an announcement sent to local schools, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training said schools should also be flexible with class schedules if the actual temperature is higher than the perceived value.

"Schools can open later than usual in the morning. If students are late, they should not be penalized," the department said.

Schools have also been asked to review school facilities and meals to ensure students have hot food, drinks and warm classrooms.

The department urged schools not to organize outdoor activities on cold days.
Vietnam's northern region is forecast to continue experiencing strong cold spells in the coming days. Low temperatures in mountainous areas were recorded at 3 to 6 degrees Celsius and around zero degrees Celsius on high peaks, resulting in frost and sleet. The weather pattern is expected to continue through the weekend.