Vietnam pledged yesterday to help companies whose factories were targeted during anti-Chinese riots last week.

The government offered tax breaks and other incentives to try and undo damage done to the factories and their production targets.

The riots followed peaceful demonstrations against China’s establishment of an oil rig on May 1 in a part of the South China Sea also claimed by Vietnam.

At least three Chinese workers were killed and more than 100 injured.

“We pledge appropriate assistance to affected companies to recover and continue their business,” Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam told a Tokyo conference attended by regional business and political leaders. “Almost all have now returned to normal operations.”

Businesses hit by the riots would be entitled to a reduction of up to 30 per cent in tax and reduced import and export tariffs.

Rents will also be reduced or waived for companies with damaged factories.