Eighteen Vietnamese fishermen – out of the 122 who have been arrested in the Philippines since May 30­ – arrived safely yesterday at Tan Son Nhat Airport.
According to Huynh Van Hung, chairman of the Phu Quy Island People's Committee, the fishermen would likely arrive back on the island today. Local authorities would provide support to the fishermen as they attempted to stabilise their lives, Hung said.

A press release issued by Viet Nam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that another 59 fishermen would return to the country on September 25 and 26. The rest would be accommodated at the West Philippines military base and would return later on seven fishing boats.

The Vietnamese embassy in the Philippines is working with relevant agencies in the country to ensure that seven fishing vessels would be soon returned to their Vietnamese owners.

VNS