VietNamNet Bridge – Through a telephone call on March 13, Malaysia asked Vietnam’s assistance for the search in the waters of Malaysia, said Colonel Vu The Chien, deputy chief of the National Committee for Search and Rescue.

A seaplane of Vietnam.

However, until Malaysia sends its official request to the committee, this agency will consult with the Government, Chien said.

An official from the Vietnam Civil Aviation Administration said, the agency received the official reply from the Malaysian authorities on the morning of March 13. Though they apologized for the late reply but the answer is general. Malaysia also thanked Vietnam for its efforts in searching for the missing plane in recent days.

Doan Huu Gia, Vice Director General of the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation, said at a press conference on March 13 that Vietnam continues to stay active in the mission that it has performed over the past few days though no traces of the missing plane have been found thus far.

The country on March 13 sent a strong force of two AN 26, one Mi 171 and two CASA 212 aircraft as well as seven ships to join forces from other countries in the search, he said.

It has also showed close coordination with Malaysia, China and Singapore, added Gia.

Vietnam also dispatched three aircraft and five ships to rummage the site where Chinese satellites captured floating debris in the hunt for the missing jet. However, nothing has been found.

Four Vietnamese planes were also deployed to suspected area to scouring for the lost jetliner with a focus on U Minh forest and the eastern part of southernmost Ca Mau province.

Deputy Minister of Transport Pham Quy Tieu said Vietnam always announces all of what it has discovered from the missing jet, and spares no efforts in the search and rescue work.

He called for Malaysia to provide updated information on the case and actively cooperated with Vietnamese agencies in the hunt.

Although the search for the Boeing 777-200 airplane with 239 people on board made no progress, reporters from many news agencies around the world are patiently waiting in Phu Quoc.

Addressing a regular press briefing of the Foreign Ministry in Hanoi on March 13, affirmed Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh emphasized that Vietnam has maximized efforts in searching for the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

The nation unhesitatingly mobilized financial and military resources to the effort, deploying rapidly its modernized naval and air forces in the immediate aftermath of the tragic event.

"We will continue our efforts," he said. “We have now established a steering board in Phu Quoc Island to further intensify and coordinate the search and rescue work,” Binh said.

Source: VNN/Zing/VOV