Sa Pa Town in the northern province of Lao Cai – a major national tourist attraction, wears an even more attractive look now with snowfall of more than five centimeters.

It said that at a height of over 1,900 m above sea level, temperatures had dipped to as low as minus two degrees Celsius, forming icy sheets 10-20 cm thick.

Average temperature in Sa Pa remained low yesterday at about minus one degree Celsius, with constant heavy smog and drizzle. On Thursday 12th Dec, the province experienced heavy downpours of 30-50cm, and temperatures in Sa Pa dropped then to 5-7 degrees Celsius.

People in the Hoang Lien National Park says the snowfall has led to constant traffic congestion on the road from Lao Cai City to Sa Pa, as thousands of tourists flock to the town to admire the rare sight this Christmas.