The possibility of snow and ice appearing at the beginning of the year.
On December 25th, the summit of Fansipan (Sa Pa, Lao Cai ) experienced its thickest frost since the beginning of winter. According to forecasts, a new cold front is expected to arrive in the first days of the new year, even stronger than the current one. Enjoying the cold weather, and even seeing the ice and snow, is a desire of many, especially those from the south who experience year-round hot weather.
A new cold front, predicted to be the strongest since the beginning of the year, could bring snow and ice to mountainous areas.
PHOTO: SW
Mr. Ly Hoang Giang, residing in Ben Thanh Ward (Ho Chi Minh City), is planning a trip north for the Western New Year . He shared that Ho Chi Minh City is hot and sunny all year round, so he and his family really enjoy the feeling of seeing snow fall. "This Western New Year holiday is quite long, but it's not enough time to arrange a trip to Japan or South Korea, so I really want to go to the northern provinces to see snow and clouds. I remember that before the recent Lunar New Year (late January 2025), Fansipan peak also experienced snowfall, making it look like 'European scenery'. Hopefully, this Western New Year holiday will give me the chance to see snow fall right here in Vietnam," Mr. Giang said.
For people with hobbies like Mr. Giang's, the Western New Year is a great opportunity when the weather is favorable. Ms. Le Thi Xuan Lan, a meteorological and hydrological forecasting expert, said: "Currently, the cold front is weakening, causing temperatures to gradually warm up in the last days of 2025. The North is not cold, the Central region has less rain, and the South is cool. This type of weather is very favorable for 'Countdown' activities – the New Year's Eve celebration. The weather across the country is generally good, so there is a high possibility that fireworks will be even more spectacular to welcome the new year. People in the North and Central regions should prepare extra warm clothing because nighttime temperatures can drop to around 15-18°C."
However, on the night of January 1st and the early morning of January 2nd, 2026, a new cold front arrived. This is predicted to be the strongest cold spell since the beginning of this winter, causing average temperatures in northern provinces to drop by another 4-5°C compared to the current levels and lasting until January 8th-9th. Therefore, during this cold spell, ice and snow are likely to appear in high-altitude areas such as Fansipan, Mu Cang Chai (Lao Cai), and Sin Ho (Lai Chau). Thus, while tourists may enjoy the view of ice and snow and cloud hunting, local residents need to take precautions to protect crops and livestock from the severe cold and frost. Hanoi and other northern provinces will experience cold weather accompanied by drizzle.
A strong cold front will bring heavy rain over a wide area in the central provinces of Vietnam. Due to the relatively heavy rainfall, people need to pay special attention to avoiding extreme weather phenomena. Tourists should remember to bring extra warm clothing and raincoats when participating in outdoor activities. It is especially important to carefully monitor weather reports when planning sea-based activities to ensure safety.
The weather in the South is perfect for cloud watching and swimming.
Similarly, in the south, the weather during the New Year holiday in Ho Chi Minh City and other popular destinations was very favorable for locals and tourists. Mr. Le Dinh Quyet, Head of the Forecasting Department at the Southern Meteorological and Hydrological Station, stated that on the last day of the year, Ho Chi Minh City experienced no rain, with a maximum temperature of 31-32°C at night and generally 22-23°C in the morning. The weather was cool and very suitable for outdoor recreational activities. During the following holiday days, the weather continued to be mild and rain-free. Due to the influence of a new cold front, temperatures may drop further by 2-3°C.
On New Year's Eve, the weather across the country was excellent, creating ideal conditions for the fireworks to shine brightly.
PHOTO: NHAT THINH
For Southern Vietnam in general, the first cold front of the year may spread and affect the region from around January 3-4, 2026, causing the average temperature to drop below 20°C - resulting in cool weather at night and early morning. Some areas in the northern part of the Eastern region, such as Xuan Loc, Phuoc Long, and Dong Phu, may experience temperatures as low as 17-18°C.
Da Lat (Lam Dong province) consistently ranks among the top destinations for holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), boasting an incredibly attractive atmosphere, especially for those who enjoy cool weather. On December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026, the lowest temperature in Da Lat will be 10-11°C, and the highest will be 23-24°C. In the following days of the Tet holiday, the cold air will intensify, causing the temperature in Da Lat to drop by another 3-4°C. This temperature is ideal for tourists to enjoy the experience of "watching the sunrise in the most beautiful place in the world ." Experts believe that those who choose Da Lat will have a particularly enjoyable experience of cloud hunting and watching the sunrise.
For beach lovers, destinations like Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa), Phan Thiet (Lam Dong), Con Dao (Ho Chi Minh City); Ha Tien, and Phu Quoc (An Giang) are also appealing, with no rain and not too intense sunshine at midday, making them ideal for outdoor recreational activities. The lowest temperatures during the first two days of the holiday are generally 23-24°C, and the highest only 30-31°C; in the following days, the average temperature will decrease by another 1-2°C.
Currently, a low-pressure trough is still extending across the Southern region, causing unseasonal rain in the area. However, the rain is only occurring in a limited area and the amount is not too heavy, so people enjoying the Tet holiday should still take extra precautions.
Self-drive car rental prices are increasing, and cars are scarce.
Due to the surge in demand for Tet holiday travel, transportation services are in high demand and prices are soaring. Nguyen Duy Minh said that this year, with a fairly long holiday for the Western New Year, he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to explore the provinces of the Mekong Delta. He planned to rent a self-drive car for more flexibility because there's a flower festival in Sa Dec (Dong Thap province) and many fruit orchards are in harvest season, in addition to several newly opened expressways. However, when he finalized his plan, he encountered difficulties finding a self-drive car rental due to high demand and inflated prices. The rental companies he usually goes to are all fully booked, while unfamiliar ones are charging exorbitant prices.
According to a survey conducted by Thanh Nien newspaper among several car rental service providers and apps, many companies have currently "closed their bookings" due to a shortage of vehicles and have adjusted rental prices upwards by 40-50% compared to normal days. In addition, many rental companies are now only accepting bookings for a full 4 days, not just 1- or 2-day rentals. Some companies reported that not only the Western New Year but also the Lunar New Year are fully booked due to high demand and frequent advance bookings from regular customers. For car rentals during the Lunar New Year, packages are typically limited to 10 days, with a minimum of one week.
Thanhnien.vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/troi-chieu-long-du-khach-dip-tet-tay-185251229221350844.htm
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