Editorial · August 7, 2026
Apartment Fire Safety in Vietnam: Exits and Extinguishers
Apartment fire safety in Vietnam starts with three checks you can do this week: know two ways out, test the alarm, and find the extinguisher. Each check takes a few minutes. Together they cover the things that matter most when a fire starts at night.
Know two ways out
Walk from your front door to the street. Do it twice. Use the stairs, not the lift, because lifts can stop working in a fire. Count the doors and turns, so you can find the way in the dark.
Look for a second route. In a larger building this is usually a second stairwell. Check that the stair door opens and that nothing sits on the landing. Bicycles, shoe racks, boxes and motorbikes block people who are trying to leave. If you see a blocked exit, tell the building management in writing and keep a copy.
Be careful with window grilles and cages. Many homes have them for security. If a grille has no inside release, it can trap a family. Ask a licensed installer to add an opening that adults can use from inside. Keep the key where every adult can find it.
A fire in a small apartment building in Hanoi on 12 September 2023 killed 56 people and injured 37. About 150 people lived in the building, which had nine storeys. Witnesses said the fire began in the building's garage, which was full of motorbikes. Many people were hurt jumping onto nearby roofs or out of windows. The building had a 2015 permit for six residential floors, but more floors had been built.
Test the alarm
An alarm only helps if it works and if you can hear it. Press the test button on any smoke alarm in your flat once a month. If the building has a shared alarm, ask management when it was last tested and who records the result.
Make sure you can hear the alarm from the bedroom with the door shut. Fires can start at night, when people are asleep. If the sound is too faint, tell management.
Smoke is the main danger in the first minutes. Keep low if the corridor has smoke. Close your door behind you when you leave. A closed door slows the spread of fire and smoke.
Do not stop to collect things. Take your phone and keys only if they are in your hand. Once you are out, stay out.
Find and check the extinguisher
Learn where the nearest extinguisher is on your floor. Check that it is not blocked. Look at the gauge if it has one, and read the label for a service date. If the gauge looks wrong, or the date has passed, report it.
An extinguisher is for small fires only. It is not meant for a fire that has grown out of control, such as one that has reached the ceiling. It is also a poor choice when the fire sits between you and the way out. If the fire is larger than a small bin, leave.
Before you ever need one, read the instructions on the label. In a real fire there is no time to learn. Do not use water on a cooking oil fire or on an electrical fire. Switch off the power if you can do so safely, and get out if you cannot.
Who is responsible in your building
Fire safety is shared. Vietnam passed a new Law on Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue, number 55/2024/QH15, in November 2024. It takes effect on 1 July 2025 and replaces the 2001 law. The Housing Law also gives the building management board duties for shared parts of a block.
In plain terms, the split looks like this.
- Management keeps stairs, corridors, shared alarms and shared extinguishers working and clear.
- Residents keep their own flat safe, keep shared routes free of belongings, and follow the building rules.
- The owner or investor answers for how the building was built and what it was approved for.
Read the exact text for your own case, because duties depend on the type and size of the building. If you are unsure, ask management for the building's fire safety documents and the date of its last check.
A simple plan for your household
Write a short plan and put it on the fridge. It should name the two exits, a meeting point outside, and a phone number to call. In Vietnam the fire and rescue emergency number is 114. Teach every adult and older child the plan. Practise it once with the lights off.
Take extra care with charging. Do not charge e-bikes or scooters overnight in corridors or stairwells. A fire in a parking area can fill the stairs with smoke fast. Use the charger made for the battery, and do not cover it.
Keep a small torch by the bed. Keep shoes near the door. Both help you leave quickly and safely.
A five-minute checklist
- I can walk to the street by two routes.
- Stairs and landings are clear.
- Window grilles open from inside, and the key is easy to reach.
- The alarm works and I can hear it from bed.
- I know where the extinguisher is and it looks in date.
- My household has a meeting point and knows to call 114.
Pick one item and fix it today. Then do the next one tomorrow. Small steps add up to a safer home. This is general information, not professional safety or legal advice. For a formal inspection, contact your building management or the local fire authority.
A place on this register is not for sale.