Heavy rain and the first strong cold spell of the season hit Hanoi from the night of November 8, disrupting daily life and snarling traffic across the capital.
From the night of November 8, Hanoi saw the first cold air spell of this winter. Widespread heavy rain and a sharp drop in temperatures significantly affected life and transport in the capital.
According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Hanoi continued to see moderate rain on November 9, with heavy rain and thunderstorms in some places. The lowest temperatures ranged from 17 to 19 degrees Celsius, while highs were only about 18 to 20 degrees Celsius. It was one of the strongest cold air spells since the start of winter.
Early on November 9, many residents heading out had to bundle up in thick coats, scarves and gloves to cope with the sudden chill.
Tran Thi Thanh, an environmental sanitation worker who began her shift at 3.45am, said: "As soon as I left home, I felt the cold and saw light rain, so I put on extra warm clothes and a raincoat to keep warm while working."
Motorbike riders prepared with gloves, scarves and face masks, covering almost their entire bodies against the cold wind.
High-necked jackets, wool scarves and hooded hats became familiar sights on the first morning of the monsoon winds.
Strong winds also made travel difficult. On many streets, especially in areas lined with high-rise buildings, gusts flipped raincoats inside out and left motorbike riders struggling to keep control.
At times, the strong wind even caused some vehicles to topple over.
Repeated strong gusts also left some road users with raincoats blown across their field of vision, raising the risk of accidents.
Cold, wet weather during the morning rush hour left traffic on many gateway roads and major arteries in the capital heavily congested for prolonged periods.
Motorbike riders, wrapped tightly in raincoats, edged forward bit by bit among dense lines of cars.
The prolonged gridlock led many people to mount the pavement to get through, creating further safety risks.
The cold air is forecast to continue affecting northern Vietnam in the coming days. Residents are advised to prepare warm clothing and rain gear before heading out, while taking extra care, watching the road closely and keeping a safe distance in cold rain and slippery conditions.
