At midday on June 13, residents across central Ho Chi Minh City looked up in amazement as a vibrant, rainbow-colored halo appeared around the sun - a rare atmospheric phenomenon that captivated onlookers.

People in Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, and Binh Thanh reported witnessing the spectacle: a bright, multicolored ring encircling the blazing sun. The halo remained visible for an extended period, giving many the chance to capture the moment with their smartphones.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuong, a resident of District 1, shared: “I was on my way to work and noticed people stopping to look up. When I followed their gaze, I was amazed - such a beautiful sight! I’ve seen rainbows after the rain but never a full circle around the sun. It felt strange and wonderful.”

Quang Khoa from Binh Thanh District also expressed his astonishment: “I was having lunch when my friends called me outside. It was incredible - like a giant glowing ring around the sun. People gathered to admire and take photos.”

According to a meteorological expert, this phenomenon is known as a sun halo - an optical event caused by sunlight passing through high-altitude cirrostratus clouds, approximately 7–8 km above the ground. These clouds are made up of ice crystals that refract and reflect sunlight, forming a circular halo.

The sun halo displays the same seven colors found in a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

Tuan Kiet