Some 200 cattle die in the cold front sweeping the north and central Vietnam (Photo: Hai Son)

A cold front in the north and central regions is forecast to last two more days, said the national weather bureau on December 20.

The four-day cold front with temperatures from 11-15 degrees Celsius has driven most people indoors. Some mountainous areas have seen temperatures as low as six degrees Celsius.

The cold snap has killed some 200 cattle, of which 140 were calves and young buffaloes, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Most of the animals were reported to have died in the mountainous northern province of Ha Giang, Lao Cai and Yen Bai.

More cattle and poultry were also reported to have died from the cold in the central provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Quang Binh. 

The ministry urged residents to make fires to keep cattle warm, feed them well, and not allow them to roam free. Vegetables and crops have also been hard-hit by the cold weather, according to the ministry.