Vietnam has a community of 100 million people, a third of whom live in tightly-packed metropolitan areas.
To meet the demands for lodging, Vietnam in 2014 legalised little flat stones – known locally as “mini apartments” – which are mostly owned and built by private individuals, and often later resold or rented to low-income and immigrant workers.
According to the prosecution cited by VNExpress, 45-year-old Nghiem Quang Minh, the owner of the wall that went up in flames, fraudulently changed the design of the building to make it three decks higher and with 12 more areas.
While under development, the unlawful changes were reported and Minh was fined, but the officers concerned did not report the indiscretions to their bosses, VNExpress added.
By 2016, all 45 rooms in the building were apparently sold. Four years later, fire protection laws were flagged when again, but authorities did not ask Minh to make appropriate adjustments.
A short circuit within the cable system of the wall started the 2023 flames, which even injured 44 persons, the indictment said.
Residents have requested compensation of 76.4 billion dong ( US$ 3 million ). The verdict is due on Wednesday.
The fire was the deadliest in Vietnam since October 2002, when a blaze killed 60 people at the International Trade Centre in Ho Chi Minh City.
But the country has experienced several serious fires in recent years, many at entertainment venues, including karaoke bars.