A severe cold spell that hit Vietnam during the last few days has taken its toll on the northern region with more than 3,900 livestock animals killed and a widespread area of crops damaged so far.

A buffalo calf died from the cold in Sapa district, Lao Cai province.

A man in Sapa burned wood to warm his buffalo.

A man transports his dead buffalo to the town of Sapa to sell the meat.

The highest number of dead livestock was recorded in Son La province (686), followed by Lang Son (571), Lao Cai (410) and Dien Bien (378), according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Department of Livestock Production.

Preliminary data show that more than 300 hectares of crops and 70 hectares of herbal plants were engulfed in snow while a large area of fruit trees were affected, Director General of the department Ma Quang Trung said, predicting thousands of hectares of crops, herbal plants and fruit trees will suffer from the cold weather.

Damage caused by the cold has mounted up to 10 billion VND (448,300 USD) so far and could exceed 20 billion VND (896,600 USD) in total.

To help address cold consequences, the State-owned Bank for Social Policies has asked its provincial branches to survey the damage and assist local residents to deal with their loans from the bank.

Vegetable supplies in markets hurt by cold

While markets in Ha Noi failed to meet local demand for vegetables in these record cold days, the price and supply in supermarkets are still stable thanks to the goods reserving scheme.

In some markets in Ha Noi, vegetable prices have increased in last three record cold days, Tin Tuc (News) newspaper reported.

Scallion increased from VND20,000 (90 US cents) to VND70,000 (VND69,115) per kg. Cabbage turnip also increased from VND2,500 (11 cents) to VND5,000 (22 cents) each, said Thanh Ha, a vegetable seller of Thanh Cong Market.

"The price of others including tomato, water dropwort is also on the rise. Water spinach is even not available to buy," Nguyen Thu Ha of Cau Giay District, said.

"Normally I spend VND10,000 (45 cents) per day for vegetables. Now I spend VND30,000 (VND28,984) these days," said Ha.

The prolonged rain and severe cold spell slowed down the growth of vegetables and caused a shortage of supply for markets, according to retailers.

While vegetables are scarce and more expensive than usual in markets, the price and supply are stable in supermarkets, Kinh Te va Do Thi (Economy and Urban) newspaper reported.

To ensure a sufficient supply of vegetables and food for the locals before, during and after Tet (Lunar New Year), Fivimart signed many contracts buying vegetables from different areas nationwide including Da Lat City and Vinh Phuc and Hai Duong provinces, said a representative of Fivimart Long Bien.

Under the contract, vegetable providers were made to ensure a sufficient supply for the supermarket and keep the price stable, he said.

A recent inspection of Ha Noi Department of Industry and Trade showed supermarkets in Ha Noi satisfied local demand for vegetables these days.

Some supermarkets even offered discounts for customers with VND10,000 (45 cents) for three cabbage turnips while it was about VND5,000 (22 cents) each in markets, according to the inspection.  

Hanoi people in the record cold weather:

VNA