Vietnam Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang

Hang said: "The Foreign Ministry has instructed its overseas missions to cooperate with relevant agencies at home and abroad to bring 1,500 Vietnamese citizens home but a few remain stranded and face difficulties in looking for flights due to visa issues. The representative missions have closely worked with airliners and host countries’ authorities to address visa issues and ensure healthcare as well as food supplies and flights back home.”

The spokeswoman said as instructed by the Prime Minister, priority is given to the elderly, those with illnesses and children under 18 to ensure balance and domestic quarantine capacity.

The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman responded to questions regarding Vietnam sending a diplomatic note protesting China to the UN: Hang said: “Vietnam pursues its consistent policy of addressing disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means in line with international law as indicated in the 1982 UNCLOS. The diplomatic note circulation at the UN is a normal activity to reflect Vietnam’s view and protect its legitimate rights and interests, which have been fully showed in the diplomatic note. Accordingly, Vietnam confirms its national sovereignty in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes in line with international law as well as Vietnam’s sovereignty rights and jurisdiction in the identified waters under regulations of the 1982 UNCLOS”.