Hieu thanked the embassy and offices ofVietnam and the Philippines for rescuing him, adding his health is recovering.
Hieu and and five other sailors, namely PhamMinh Tuan, Hoang Vo, Tran Khuong Dung, Hoang Van Hai and Hoang Trung Thong,were abducted from the Royal 16 ship off Sibagu island of Basilan, thePhilippines, in November 2016.
At the time of the attack, there were 19sailors on board the ship. Pirates released the ship and 13 sailors afterkidnapping the six people.-VNA