Ice Coats Ta Xua Peak as Temperatures Drop Below Zero

Visitors on Ta Xua ridge in Son La were caught off guard on the morning of 19 November when parts of the peak were covered in ice. Temperatures at about 2.700 meters fell to around minus 2 degrees Celsius, creating rare early season conditions that surprised both locals and trekkers.

Phang A Chia, a guide from Lao Cai, was leading a group of nine down from the summit when he noticed the air turn sharper than usual. He said he felt light breathing difficulty, a dry nose, a mild headache, and signs of body temperature drop. With more than five years of experience guiding Ta Xua tours, he recognized the symptoms as an early signal of ice ahead. A short walk later, the group entered a forest section coated in white frost.

Chia said the cold wind cut through clothing, but everyone stayed to take photos because the frozen landscape looked like a film scene.

This is the first time ice has appeared on Ta Xua since early November, as northern Vietnam continues to face a strong cold surge. One visitor from Da Nang, Nhut Anh, said she did not plan to hunt for frost but found tree branches lined with ice three to five centimeters thick and in some spots close to ten centimeters.

Current temperatures on Ta Xua sit between seven and nine degrees at lower points, with colder conditions of two to four degrees on the ridge. Heavy fog and slippery trails pose risks for trekkers. Based on weather patterns, ice may continue to form on 20 November.

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Source: Vietnam Insider