The risk of fire is huge in many slums in Hanoi because these houses are built with inflammable materials such as canvas, cardboard, fireboards and planks.

The slums on the bank of Linh Quang Lake in Dong Da district has about 30 temporary houses, which are home to about 100 poor migrants from Thanh Hoa, Nam Dinh and Ha Nam provinces. Most of them earn VND1-2 million ($40-90) a month from selling balloons and collecting scrap. They have no choice to live in this area because the rent is very cheap, only VND100,000-VND200,000 ($5-8) a month.

To cook, most people use a wood stove. "It is dangerous because fire can occur at any time, but we have no other choice because we cannot afford to use gas or electric stoves," said Nguyen Thi Binh, a woman from Ha Nam.

A local official, Mr. Nguyen Tien Ngoc, said the wood stove was the cause of the fire. The most recent fire in this slum was caused by the wood stove of a migrant family.

Another slum is located down the road of Duong Dinh Nghe in Cau Giay District, with about 100 residents who are migrant construction workers. A room in the slum, with a small bed and a lot of clothing, pots and pans, dishes and blankets.

A tent of about 30 workers, with 4-5 rice cookers. Children are responsible for cooking.

Next to these huts are piles of inflammable garbage such as plastic bags and wood panels.

An officer from the Hanoi Fire Fighting Police Department said that it is very difficult for carrying out fire-fighting activities in the slums.