Lao Cai, Dec. 25 -- Early on the morning of December 25, the first visitors reaching the summit of Fansipan in the northern province of Lao Cai were delighted to witness a rare and spectacular natural scene as ice coated the peak in white.

With temperatures hovering between 1 and 3 degrees Celsius, frost and ice covered the summit area, creating an ideal condition for tourists eager to admire icy scenery, clouds and experience a Christmas atmosphere amid a sea of cold mist.

According to a staff member of the Sun World Fansipan Legend tourist site, the icy condition appeared from the early hours at elevations above 3,000 metres. The ice layer, about 0.5 centimetres thick, clung to floors, railings, and other surfaces, turning the mountai...