Vietnam launches telephone directory for citizen protection abroad

Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnam Military-run Telecommunications Group (Viettel) launched here on Monday a telephone directory to support the work of protecting Vietnamese citizens and legal persons abroad.

Speaking at the launching, Pham Binh Minh, deputy prime minister and foreign minister said protecting Vietnamese citizens and legal persons abroad is an important task of the government as well as the ministry.

The establishing and putting the telephone directory into operation showed the determination and efforts of Vietnamese government in increasing efficiency of protection of its citizens and legal persons abroad, reported Vietnam's state-run news agency VNA on Monday.

Starting operation on Monday, the telephone directory at +844. 62.844.844 is available all day and night for calls asking for information, requirements, and support relating to the work of protecting Vietnamese citizens and legal persons abroad.

The number of Vietnamese citizens working overseas now reaches over 500,000 and the figure of those who study abroad is over 100, 000. Meanwhile, there are some 200,000 Vietnamese married with foreigners, reported VNA.