These days, the lowest temperatures in the districts of Bac Yen, Moc Chau, Van Ho, Thuan Chau… in Son La province are only 5-7 degrees Celsius; some highland communes have seen temperatures as low as 1-2 degrees Celsius at times. Many areas are shrouded in fog, with light frost and hoarfrost appearing at night and in the early morning.

People in the mountainous region of Bac Yen, Son La province, light fires to keep warm.

To keep warm and protect their health and that of their families, people in the highlands often warm themselves by wood-burning stoves or by braziers of hot coals in front of their houses or at roadside stalls.

In schools in mountainous areas, especially kindergens and boarding schools, even when temperatures drop, parents often leave their children with the school due to difficult circumstances, such as working far away in the fields all day. Parents and teachers have contributed firewood for the teachers to light fires to keep the children warm, boil water for the children to drink and wash their hands, and ensure the classroom and boarding facilities are adequate for the students.

The warm charcoal braziers keep the people earning their living warm on cold days.

Teacher Le Trung Kien, Deputy Principal of Co Ma Ethnic Boarding Junior High School in Thuan Chau district, Son La province, said: Co Ma is a highland commune, so the temperature is often lower than elsewhere, accompanied by frost and ice, which greatly affects the health and learning of the students. In recent days, there have been continuous cold spells. The school has regularly updated and monitored weather information and reviewed and inspected the facilities of classrooms and boarding rooms for students; preparing enough warm blankets and hot meals for boarding students...

Localities and schools in the mountainous, border, and disadvantaged areas of Son La province are still mobilizing resources and receiving attention and support from organizations, individuals, and philanthropists... in the form of blankets, warm clothes, and necessary materials and equipment to ensure health in the harsh winter weather conditions.

Le Hanh/Vov-Northwest