The sudden mid-summer cold-snap took local residents and tourists in the town by surprise. Temperatures plunged to just around 12 degree celsius with many people rushing to don more clothes.
Pham Van Ham, a local resident in Sapa Town, Lao Cai Province, said: "I’ve lived here for more than 50 years. The weather here rapidly changes, particularly in recent years. But such cold spells are quite rare".
Prior to this cold spell, Sapa and the whole northwest region experienced days of high temperatures, which seriously damaged local agricultural production.
Luu Minh Hai, Director of Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Centre, Lao Cai Province, said: "Unusual cold spells like this have been recorded in Sapa. In July 2005, there was a sudden cold spell but it was weaker".
The weather however already began to warm by the afternoon of July 6, visitors and locals have been warned that temperatures are set to plummet at night and the cold spell could last for several days.
