Around 4:30 AM, a fire erupted at Dinh Cong Green Market in Phuong Liet ward, Hoang Mai district. The blaze rapidly spread through numerous fabric and votive paper stalls. Firefighters brought the inferno under control in just under two hours.

Pham Phuong Thuy, who lives opposite the market, reported seeing smoke rising around 4 AM. Within 30 minutes, thick smoke and flames engulfed the area. "I managed to shout and alert people to the fire, waking everyone to cut the market's power supply," she stated.

Smoke billowed high as the fire rapidly spread, threatening the solidly constructed residential rental houses adjacent to the market.

Eight fire trucks and dozens of other vehicles were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters deployed high-pressure hoses and forced open stall doors to combat the deep-seated flames.

The market, bordered by residential homes on two sides, features a secondary entrance leading to Trinh Dinh Cuu street and a main gate on Tran Nguyen Dan street. The entire main gate area was completely destroyed by fire, with its entrance now obscured by corrugated iron sheets.

Hoa (left) sobbed upon learning that her family's votive goods stall within the market had been consumed by the fire.

Residents sat in a daze on Tran Nguyen Dan street, gazing towards the market, uncertain about the fate of their stalls.

Residents salvaged and moved out the remaining agricultural products.

Authorities deployed excavators into the market, systematically overturning stalls and corrugated iron roofs while simultaneously using hoses to extinguish lingering embers.

Goods from the stalls lay scattered across roads and pathways. The fire completely destroyed all stalls, leaving metal racks and counters superheated, deformed, and discolored.

Authorities cordoned off the scene and closed roads. By approximately 7:15 AM, the fire was largely under control.

Pham Chieu - Huy Manh