China is to send five ships to Vietnam on Sunday to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence, the Ministry of Transport said.

The first ship has already set off from a port in Haikou, China's southmost province of Hainan, at 8 a.m. Sunday, said a statement from the ministry.

The ship is expected to reach Vietnam after 17 to 18 hours' travel, according to Hainan Maritime Safety Administration.

A rescue vessel has been sent to the relevant waters to provide emergency support. Another rescue vessel and a rescue helicopter are on standby, officials with the administration said.

Two Chinese nationals were killed in the violence and more than 100 others injured.

An iron and steel complex in Ha Tinh Province of Vietnam, invested by Taipei-based Formosa Plastics Group, was badly hit in the violent attacks triggered by disputes in the South China Sea.

Sixteen critically injured Chinese nationals were evacuated from Vietnam early Sunday morning aboard a chartered medical flight arranged by Chinese government.

More than 3,000 Chinese nationals have been evacuated from Vietnam as of Saturday afternoon, China's Foreign Ministry said early Sunday morning.

Passenger ship "Wuzhishan" leaves for Vietnam from Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 18, 2014. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam, the Ministry of Transport has said. "Wuzhishan" was the first ship leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Wei Hua)BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- China is to send five ships to Vietnam on Sunday to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence, the Ministry of Transport said.The first ship has already set off from a port in Haikou, China's southmost province of Hainan, at 8 a.m. Sunday, said a statement from the ministry.The ship is expected to reach Vietnam after 17 to 18 hours' travel, according to Hainan Maritime Safety Administration.A rescue vessel has been sent to the relevant waters to provide emergency support. Another rescue vessel and a rescue helicopter are on standby, officials with the administration said.Two Chinese nationals were killed in the violence and more than 100 others injured.An iron and steel complex in Ha Tinh Province of Vietnam, invested by Taipei-based Formosa Plastics Group, was badly hit in the violent attacks triggered by disputes in the South China Sea.Sixteen critically injured Chinese nationals were evacuated from Vietnam early Sunday morning aboard a chartered medical flight arranged by Chinese government.More than 3,000 Chinese nationals have been evacuated from Vietnam as of Saturday afternoon, China's Foreign Ministry said early Sunday morning.

Workers load food and supplies onto passenger ship "Wuzhishan" at Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 18, 2014. "Wuzhishan" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam, the Ministry of Transport has said. "Wuzhishan" was the first ship leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Wei Hua) 

Passenger ship "Wuzhishan" leaves for Vietnam from Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 18, 2014. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam, the Ministry of Transport has said. "Wuzhishan" was the first ship leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Wei Hua) 

Passenger ship "Wuzhishan" leaves for Vietnam from Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 18, 2014. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam, the Ministry of Transport has said. "Wuzhishan" was the first ship leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Wei Hua) 

Passenger ship "Wuzhishan" leaves for Vietnam from Xiuying port in Haikou, China's southmost province of Hainan, May 18, 2014. China is to send five ships to Vietnam on Sunday to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence, the Ministry of Transport said. The first ship has already set off from Haikou, and is expected to reach Vietnam after 17 to 18 hours' travel, according to Hainan Maritime Safety Administration. (Xinhua/Wei Hua)

A crew member debugs the Beidou navigation system aboard China's passenger ship "Wuzhishan" on May 18, 2014. "Wuzhishan" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam, the Ministry of Transport has said. "Wuzhishan" was the first ship leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Wei Hua)

Passenger ships "Wuzhishan" (R) and "Tongguling" are on standby at Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 18, 2014. "Wuzhishan" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam, the Ministry of Transport has said. "Wuzhishan" was the first ship leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Wei Hua)

Passenger ships "Wuzhishan" (C) and "Tongguling" (L) are on standby at Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 18, 2014. "Wuzhishan" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam, the Ministry of Transport has said. "Wuzhishan" was the first ship leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Wei Hua)

Crew members work aboard China's passenger ship "Wuzhishan" on May 18, 2014. "Wuzhishan" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam, the Ministry of Transport has said. "Wuzhishan" was the first ship leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Wei Hua)

A maritime personnel checks the life rafts aboard passenger ship "Wuzhishan" at Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 18, 2014. "Wuzhishan" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam, the Ministry of Transport has said. "Wuzhishan" was the first ship leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Wei Hua)

A worker loads food and supplies onto passenger ship "Wuzhishan" at Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 18, 2014. "Wuzhishan" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam, the Ministry of Transport has said. "Wuzhishan" was the first ship leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Wei Hua)

A maritime personnel checks the life rafts aboard passenger ship "Wuzhishan" at Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 18, 2014. "Wuzhishan" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam, the Ministry of Transport has said. "Wuzhishan" was the first ship leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Wei Hua)

A crew member walks in the cabin aboard China's passenger ship "Tongguling" on May 18, 2014. "Tongguling" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam. "Wuzhishan" and "Tongguling" were the first two ships leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Passenger ship "Tongguling" is to set off for Vietnam at Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 18, 2014. "Tongguling" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam. "Wuzhishan" and "Tongguling" were the first two ships leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Crew members work aboard China's passenger ship "Tongguling" on May 18, 2014. "Tongguling" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam. "Wuzhishan" and "Tongguling" were the first two ships leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) 

Photo taken on May 18, 2014 show the cabin aboard China's passenger ship "Tongguling" on May 18, 2014. "Tongguling" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam. "Wuzhishan" and "Tongguling" were the first two ships leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) 

Medical personnel are to carry medicines to passenger ship "Tongguling" at Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 18, 2014. "Tongguling" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam. "Wuzhishan" and "Tongguling" were the first two ships leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Workers load bottled water onto passenger ship "Tongguling" at Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 18, 2014. "Tongguling" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam. "Wuzhishan" and "Tongguling" were the first two ships leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Crew members put the banner reading "Welcome Chinese Nationals Back Home" onto the passenger ship "Tongguling" at Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, May 18, 2014. "Tongguling" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam. "Wuzhishan" and "Tongguling" were the first two ships leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Captain Lin Shaohui (L) and First Mate Zhuo Shu work aboard China's passenger ship "Tongguling" on May 18, 2014. "Tongguling" left for Vietnam from Xiuying port in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, on Sunday. China began on Sunday to send five ships to evacuate Chinese nationals caught in a deadly anti-China violence in Vietnam. "Wuzhishan" and "Tongguling" were the first two ships leaving for Vietnam. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)