Q&A

1. Zing: Recent rumours in media are about risk of fraud with rescue flight tickets, what have MOFA and diplomatic missions done to cope with this issue and do you have any advice?

Vietnam Airlines informed MOFA that they has warned customers, especially Vietnamese citizens living broad, about fraud flight tickets selling on internet.

Since the pandemic’s outbreak, especially when Viet Nam Government implemented repatriation flights to bring home Vietnamese citizens living in extremely difficult conditions, registration procedures and relevant processes to purchase flight tickets are fully, timely and publicly annouced by Vietnamese diplomatic missions overseas and the Consular Department of MOFA on their official websites and Viet Nam’s local media. In coordination with domestic authorities, Vietnamese diplomatic missions overseas will review requests to compile a list and directly contact each person via email to inform flight ticket purchase procedures.

We advise all Vietnamese citizens living abroad to follow instructions of Vietnamese diplomatic mission and only purchase flight ticket once receiving official notice from the Vietnamese diplomatic mission in order to protect their own rights and interests. We also look forward to receiving information about any frauds. Reporters can directly report us so that we can coordinate with the domestic authorities as well as diplomatic missions overseas to handle this issue timely.

2. As you’ve shared, on 22 July there will be a meeting between Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister of New Zealand. So is there a possibility that the Viet Nam – New Zealand relation will be upgraded into the bilateral relation?

This year marked 45 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and New Zealand. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975, the relation between Vietnam and New Zealand has been developed positively and sustainably. In 2009, the two countries have elevated our relation to the comprehensive partnership, and this is an important milestone to enhance the bilateral relationship in a comprehensive and substantive and effective manner in many areas.

With all the achievements, Vietnam wishes and commit to together with New Zealand to making effort to promptly to bring the relationship between the two countries to a new height, following the spirit of the joint statement between the two countries during the visit of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to New Zealand in 2018, on the “Advancing the comprehensive partnership toward the strategic partnership”.

3. Please verify the information on the Vietnam Airlines website that Viet Nam and China will resume international flight between Nan Jing and Ha Noi on 18 July, is this information correct? CCTV would like to register for news-reporting.

Following Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s direction, Vietnamese ministries and departments are actively working with overseas competent authorities to resume flights between Viet Nam and several countries and territories. Accordingly, Viet Nam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed a number of Vietnamese diplomatic missions about resuming flights to Seoul (Republic of Korea), Tokyo (Japan), Taiwan, Guang Zhou (China), Vientian (Laos), and Phnom Penh (Campuchia) from middle of July 2020 provided that disease prevention measures are ensured so that the pandemic is unable to be spread in community, contributing to social and economic recovery and development. The Ministry of Transportation is currently exchanging with competent authorities of the above-mentioned countries and territories in order to agree on matters of flight techniques, schedules and frequencies.

In the short term, Viet Nam will prioritize people that are currently allowed to enter Viet Nam including Vietnamses citizens, foreigners who are experts, investors, business managers, high-skilled workers, and people who enter Viet Nam with the diplomatic and official purposes. Entrants to Viet Nam must comply with medical quarantine and appropriate isolation in accordance with regulation of the disease prevention measures.

4. CNA: What is Viet Nam’s reaction regarding the recent statement of the United States on China’s claims in the South China Sea?

Regarding the statement of the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stating US’s position on the China’s claims in the South China Sea, I have responded to the media, let me repeat again:

Peace, stability, cooperation and development in the East Sea (the South China Sea) are the common aspirations and goals shared by countries in the East Sea, the region and the world. Respecting the legal order at sea and implementing in full and with good faith and responsibility the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is of critical importance to the realisation of these goals.

Viet Nam welcomes countries’ positions on the East Sea issues which are consistent with international law and shares the view, as stated in the statement issued on the occasion of the 36th ASEAN Summit, that the UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.

Viet Nam hopes that countries will try their best to contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea as well as to the settlement of disputes through dialogues and other peaceful means under international law for the common sake and in accordance with the aspirations of regional countries and the international community. Viet Nam has always contributed in a positive and responsible manner to this course.

5. VnExpress: Please verify information reported by Malaysian media that a crew of 12 Vietnamese people have been stranded on sea since March? What are assistance measures for this crew as the owner has abandoned the ship?

According to Viet Nam Maritime Department, crew members on Viet Tin 01 ship said that they boarded from 10 March 2020 to 24 March 2020 in order to moor the vessel at the anchor area in Johor, Malaysia. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic’s impacts, crew members have yet to get their wages as well as meals and living expenses since 26 May 2020. Crew members have also asked the ship owner company which is Thuan Thien Co., Ltd to pay their wages, provide living expenses and make plan to return the ship back to Viet Nam; however, none of those matters are resolved.

After receiving information from the Viet Nam Maritime Department, Viet Nam’s MOFA has directed the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia to contact crew members to learn about the incident and carry out citizen protection measures when necessary. Then, MOFA has asked Viet Nam Maritime Department to request Thuan Thien Co., Ltd to promptly perform the contract signed with crew members such as paying wages and expenses incurred due to overdue onboard etc. and fulfil Malaysia’s conditions so that the ship can return to Viet Nam. In case of necessity, MOFA and Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia will also discuss with Malaysian side about procedures as required.

6. VnExpress: How many Vietnamese citizens living abroad have been repartriated to avoid the covid-19 pandemic and how many will come back later on?

As you’re all aware, following the direction of high-level leaders, especially the Prime Minister, Vietnamese relevant authorities and overseas diplomatic missions have closely coordinated with authorities of the host countries to bring home Vietnamese citizens based on their demands and the capacity of domestic quarantine facilities.

From 10 April 2020 until today, 16 July, Viet Nam has organised 55 flights and bring 13.323 Vietnamese citizens living abroad back to Viet Nam. All relevant authorities, Ministries and Departments of Viet Nam, the MOFA, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Public Security will continue to coordinate with Vietnamese diplomatic missions overseas to repartriate Vietnamese citizens living abroad based on their demands and capacity of domestic quarantine facilities.