Tropical snowfall causes congestion in Sa Pa (photos)

January 12, 2015 | 10:30

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Heavy snowfall caused a traffic jam that extended several kilometers in Sa Pa town in the northern province of Lao Cai from Friday night to Saturday morning. Tourists from other provinces have flocked to the area for a taste of tropical snowfall.

Heavy snowfall is seen in Sa Pa town in northern Vietnam's Lao Cai Province from late January 9 to January 10, 2015 morning.<br /><span>Tuoi Tre</span>

The temperature at O Quy Ho Mountain Pass in Sa Pa town dropped to below 0 Celsius degree from 9pm on Friday to past midnight on Saturday, causing snow to fall heavily in many areas, according to Nguyen Van Thanh, a forest ranging official of the province’s Hoang Lien National Park.

The snowfall seriously limited drivers’ visibility and caused a several-hour traffic jam on National Highway 4D from Sa Pa to neighboring Lai Chau province and the other way around.

Many roads, trees and vegetables gardens in Sa Pa Town and neighboring areas have been blanketed by 5 to 15cm thick snow.

Around 40 container trucks waited in line for the traffic to be cleared, said Senior Lieutenant Bui Tuan Anh, a local traffic policeman.

Local traffic police were deployed to direct the traffic flow.

The truck congestion persisted until 2pm on Saturday, with only cars being able to go through.

Many roads, trees and vegetables gardens in Sa Pa Town and neighboring areas have been blanketed by 5 to 15cm thick snow.

Heaviest snow is seen at Bac Waterfall and the peak of O Quy Ho Mt Pass.
Locals have worked hard to remove the snow from their roofs, gardens and cattle sheds and cushion them from damage.

Influxes of tourists and photographers from Hanoi and other provinces have flocked to the area for a taste and snapshots of the snowfall.