Vietnam sets up helpline for citizens abroad

13-04-2015 | Viettel Headlines

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh highly praised the new service, saying that the government has always put great importance in the protection of Vietnamese citizens.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the military-run Viettel Group on Monday launched a helpline to receive calls from all Vietnamese citizens abroad.

The round-the-clock hotline is capable of handling more than 1,500 calls per day and is served by a professional staff, according to the telecom giant Viettel.

Normal call fees are applied without any additional charge.

Vietnam has established diplomatic ties with nearly 200 countries and trade ties with almost all of countries and territories worldwide.

Over 600,000 Vietnamese, including 100,000 students, are working and studying abroad, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

In addition, more than 200,000 Vietnamese women have got married in foreign countries.

The line at +844.62.844.844/ +84.981.84.84.84 will process requests for help as well as to receive information provided by Vietnamese citizens when they are outside Vietnam. It immediately provides the answering fields, including:

- Instructions to handle troubles oversea, such as lost passports, sickness or accidents, being arrested and imprisoned.

- Instructions to handle natural disasters abroad (Fishermen who are under their control, inspection, being arrested at foreign shores, stolen of properties, beaten... Vietnamese crew members experiencing pirates at foreign territorial seas.

- Provide the contact list under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that supports people to handle cases, related to domestic issues, travelling abroad, problems arised for citizens abroad.