The fire, which was said to be the biggest one recorded in the city so far, occurred at 10.30pm at a slum by the Cai River in Vinh Phuoc Ward.

The slum has been cleared with 400 residents losing their houses," chairman of Vinh Phuoc Ward, Nguyen Van Cuong, said.

"Most of the residents here are poor people living on fishing," he said.

Cuong said that rescue workers faced difficulties accessing the area as the roads were too small. They had to help transport furniture by boats.

"The fire was brought under control at 1.30 am on January 18," he added. "There were no casualties but the loss in property was huge."

Chairman of Khanh Hoa Province, Le Duc Vinh, arrived to direct the rescue work. He said that this was the biggest fire recorded in the province.

Chairman of Nha Trang City, Nguyen Van Danh, said that the city will arrange temporary housing for the 400 residents.

Most of the residents lost all their belongings in the fire.

This man is trying to collect furniture left in the debris. "When I heard about the fire, it had already reached my house, so I could only urge my wife and our four children to run away," he said.