A week-long frost in the north of Vietnam has pushed temperatures down to 4-5 degrees Celsius, causing temperatures lower than last year’s, by around 0.2-0.5 degrees.

Temperature nationwide will be lower than previous years (Photo: U.Phuong)

In southern Vietnam, where sunny weather is experienced all year round, has also seen temperatures drop to17-18 degrees.

The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting said that temperatures nationwide will be lower than previous years from January to April.

In particular, January and March will see two cold snaps each.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development warned farmers and provincial administrations to keep tabs on the weather. Farmers must halt sowing seed and protect seedlings.

The chilly weather has people entering hospitals in their droves, especially the elderly, said the General Hospital in the central province of Da Nang January 14.

Since the beginning of January, 220 patients from the central provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and the city of Da Nang have been hospitalized due to the weather. Most of them are over 50 years-old. 21 have suffered cerebral haemorrhage, 35 encephalomalacia (a softening of the brain), 10 myocardial infarctions and 26 with low blood pressure.