The owners of a Chinese ship and its cargo have left both stranded off Vietnam's central coast for four months after a wreck sunk half the vessel and left the crew to be rescued by border guards in Da Nang.

All 12 sailors from the Lucky Dragon including eight Chinese and four from Myanmar were rescued when the vessel caught fire and broke in half November 3 last year. The crew is still in Vietnam.

The 2,300 tons of iron rolls being shipped from China to Ho Chi Minh City are now under water but the prow and machine room are still above the surface in shallow waters near the shore.

The Lucky Dragon had been caught in a storm when it turned to Da Nang for help before the engine trench broke out in flames.