Temperatures dropped sharply, and ice began to form in the area around Fansipan peak on the night of December 20. By 6 a.m. on December 21, a layer of ice about 2 cm thick had covered the wooden floor and railings on the peak area and surrounding vegetation.
According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Chien, Director of Sun World Fansipan Legend tourist area, the lowest temperature at night is -9oC. At the top of Fansipan, the temperature these days ranges from 5 - 15oC during the day and drops below 0oC at night.
Frost usually occurs in winter, from November to February of the following year. This is the fourth time this year that this phenomenon has been recorded on the roof of Indochina, but the frost is more numerous and thicker.
"This year the snow and ice appeared earlier than previous years," said Giang Seo Nha, a security guard who has worked at the mountain top for four years. This year, the first frost came in late October.
Nghiem Hung, a resident of Sapa, said the weather had turned cold in the town but there was no frost yet. Temperatures were at 2-8oC, foggy weather with drizzle.
