A fire that ripped through a small apartment block in central Hanoi has killed at least 14 people and injured three others, state media said Friday.

"The fire broke out at around 12.30am. The fire was big, with several explosions," the official Vietnam News Agency reported.

By 6.20am, at least 14 people had died and three were injured, VNA cited local officials as saying.

It was not clear how many people were in the flat at the time the fire broke out. The flames were extinguished after an hour.

The building is situated down a two-metre-wide alley, with the top floors of the building rented out, VNA said.

The first floor was reportedly used for the selling and fixing of electric bicycles.

A neighbour, who declined to give her name, said she heard an "explosion like fire crackers".

"I thought there was a fight, or something hitting the window. I ran down and saw the fire.

"Many of the neighbours had run out of the alley, crossing through other neighbours' houses. We were so, so scared." (AFP)