Vietnamese authorities and representative agencies abroad have worked closely with domestic and foreign airlines to conduct over 800 flights carrying home nearly 200,000 Vietnamese citizens from over 60 countries and territories, amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang.

Hung Yen receives 174 Vietnamese citizens returning from Myanmar (Photo: VNA)

During the ministry’s regular press conference held virtually on December 9, Hang said Vietnamese citizens’ demand for returning home is high as the Lunar New Year festival is coming near and many Vietnamese workers and students have their visas expired.

The Foreign Ministry is working closely with ministries, agencies and localities to arrange flights carrying Vietnamese citizens home, taking into consideration the overseas Vietnamese's wish, the pandemic situation and quarantine capacity in the country, she said.

About the protection of Vietnamese citizens and enterprises in Myanmar, Hang said the Foreign Ministry and the Vietnamese Embassy in Myanmar have kept constant watch on the situation in Myanmar and Vietnamese citizens and enterprises there. A number of citizen protection and consular measures have been implemented to ensure their lives, assets, legitimate rights and interests.

The ministry and the embassy have also asked Myanmar authorities to enhance measures to ensure the safety of lives and assets of Vietnamese citizens and enterprises there in line with the two countries’ agreements as well as international law and practices.

As regards the repatriation of 17 Vietnamese crewmen who survived in the sinking of the Huoei Crystal vessel in the waters bordering Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on December 1, Hang said there were 18 Vietnamese crewmen aboard the Panama-registered vessel.

After hearing the news, the Vietnamese representative agencies in Japan, the RoK and DPRK immediately contacted relevant agencies in the countries to confirm the information and requested urgent search and rescue.

On December 2, a RoK ship saved 17 sailors and took them to the RoK’s Mukho port, Donghae city, Gangwon province. The search for the last crewman continued until December 4 evening but without any result.

The owner of the vessel and insurance firms had contacted the crewmen and started procedures to pay insurance benefits in line with regulations. The repatriation of these victims will depend on their wish, she said.

Source: VNA