(VOVworld) – 6,000 Vietnamese living in Kharkov city, one of the hot spots in Ukraine, are still safe despite political tensions. Chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Kharkov Tran Duc Tua has responded to the concern of a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Russia that Ukraine’s crisis may affect the lives and business of the 10,000 Vietnamese residing in Kharkov, Kiev, Odessa, and other Ukrainian cities.

Protests in Ukraine raise a fear that the lives of Vietnamese there may be affected. (Photo: Reuters)

Their businesses are still operational, their children continue to go to school, and their daily activities remain unchanged. However, he noted, demonstrations by local people, cold weather, and the devaluation of the hryvnia (Ukraine’s currency) have affected business in Barabansova market, where there is a concentration of Vietnamese traders. Tua went on to say that all Vietnamese consider Kharkov their second homeland so they have always tried to maintain good relations with local people. He expressed his hope that the crisis will soon come to an end.