Mountainous areas in northern Vietnam have been covered in frost in recent days as temperatures plunged to below zero, prompting local authorities to allow students to stay home.

Schools in northern provinces of Vietnam are struggling to maintain normal operations during the current cold spell. The sub-zero temperatures have blanketed the region with frost.

Frost appear on Mau Son Mount in Lang Son province. Photo: Thuy Thin

Mount Mau Son in Lang Son province, 170 kilometers northeast of Hanoi, recorded a temperature of minus 1.0 degree Celsius yesterday, according to the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasts.

At the top of Phia Oac Mountain in Cao Bang province, temperatures also dropped to minus 1.0 degree Celsius, with ice appearing at an altitude of 1,400 meters and above.

Temperatures in Dong Van town of Ha Giang plunged to 2 degrees Celsius, and in Sa Pa, a popular tourist town in Lao Cai province, to 3 degrees Celsius.

Therefore, thousands of students in Lang Son, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, among other northern provinces have been allowed to stay home to avoid the cold snap.

In some other provinces where temperatures are higher, school hours will start later than usual while outdoor activities are limited.

Students still go to schools though cold spell chills Hanoi

A strong cold front has plunged the temperature in Hanoi to between 11 and 13 degrees Celsius in recent days, which was especially challenging for children and those who had to leave home early in the morning for schools and work.

Temperatures in Hanoi's Ba Vi district went down to 8 degrees Celsius and in the downtown area to 11 degrees Celsius.

Hanoi students have to bundle up when going to schools. Photo: Internet

Hanoi's schools saw massive student absences yesterday despite the temperature staying above the 10 degree Celsius benchmark, below which children are not required to go to primary schools and nurseries.

Sao Mai Kindergarten in Nam Tu Liem district, for instance, welcomed only a half of its students yesterday.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Loan, Principal of Khanh Thuong A Kindergarten (Ba Vi district) said that in cold days, her school has extended the time to pick up children so that the percentage of children going to school is about 65%.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Anh, Head of Education and Training Department of Cau Giay district added that the department has also allowed schools to stay open later than usual in cold weather.

While children at primary school and kindergarten level were not required to attend if their local day temperature fell below 10 degree Celsius, the benchmark for lower secondary school students to stay at home was 7 degree Celsius.