Temperatures at the peak of Fansipan (Lao Cai Province) dropped below zero on the morning of January 7. Combined with rainfall, the cold caused the water to freeze, forming ice that blanketed the area in white.

With its spectacular natural scenery and ethnic villages rich in distinctive local culture, the mountain town of Sa Pa in Viet Nam has risen to sixth place in the ranking of Asia’s top mountain and small-town destinations.