Vietnam accused a Chinese vessel of colliding with a Vietnamese fishing boat in waters on its continental shelf.

越南指责一艘中国船只在越南大陆架海域撞击一艘越南渔船。

'This is a serious case of violating Vietnamese sovereignty, threatening the lives and damaging the properties of Vietnamese fishermen,' the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said late Monday.

越南外交部周一晚间说，这是一起侵犯越南主权、威胁越南渔民生命、破坏越南渔民财产的严重事件。

A formal complaint has been lodged with the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi, it added.

越南外交部还说，已向中国驻越南大使馆提出正式抗议。

The ministry said the boat with 15 fishermen on board was fishing in Vietnam's 'exclusive economic zone' on May 20 when a Chinese vessel hit its side, damaging the fishing boat and threatening the fishermen's lives.

越南外交部说，5月20日，载有15名渔民的越南渔船正在越南专属经济区捕鱼，一艘中国船只撞击渔船的侧翼，令渔船受损并危及渔民的生命。

It didn't provide any description of the Chinese vessel.

越南外交部没有提供对中国船只的任何描述。

China, Vietnam and other countries in the region have been embroiled in long-standing territorial disputes over parts of the South China Sea, including the mineral-rich Spratly and Paracel islands.

围绕南中国海（South China Sea，中国称南海）部分地区，包括矿产丰富的南沙群岛和西沙群岛，中国、越南和该地区的其他国家长期以来一直存在领土争端。

In March, Vietnam accused a Chinese vessel of firing at a Vietnamese fishing boat and burning its cabin.

今年3月，越南指责一艘中国船只向一艘越南渔船开火并造成渔船船舱被烧毁。