Thanh Ha, a Hanoi resident who arrived in Bangkok on 25/7, said tourist attractions and shopping centers like Central World, Siam Square, and Samyan Mirtown remain bustling. "It seems the conflict hasn't impacted tourism in Bangkok," she said.

Similarly, Tran My, who has been in Thailand since 23/7, said there are no signs of the border conflict affecting the tourist experience. She has visited several sites, including Wat Pho, Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, Siam Paragon, and Safari World. Prices remain stable, and all tourist attractions are open as usual.

Central World shopping mall on the afternoon of 25/7. Photo: Thanh Ha

Central World shopping mall on the afternoon of 25/7. Photo: Thanh Ha

Nguyen Truc, a tour guide from VietGoGo, a company specializing in Thailand tours, is currently leading a group through Bangkok and Pattaya. He noted that the conflict zone is approximately 1,000 km from Bangkok and 800 km from Pattaya, so most tourists believe they will not be affected. Foreign tourists in Pattaya continue to enjoy themselves.

However, many Vietnamese tourists remain concerned and are considering canceling their trips to Thailand. Since the afternoon of 24/7, discussions on Vietnamese travel forums have centered around whether to cancel trips to Thailand following news of the Thai-Cambodia clashes.

Thai Minister of Public Health Somsak Thepsuthin reported on 24/7 that at least 11 civilians and one soldier were killed when clashes broke out on the border with Cambodia. He said Cambodian fire hit a hospital near the border. Thailand reported that the conflict has so far killed 20 people, including 14 civilians and 6 soldiers, and injured dozens more. The Cambodian Ministry of National Defense reported 13 deaths and at least 71 injuries.

Vietnamese tourists in Bangkok on 25/7. Photo: VietGoGo

Vietnamese tourists in Bangkok on 25/7. Photo: VietGoGo

"July 24th marked the peak of anxiety for Vietnamese tourists about to travel to Thailand," said Vo Duy Khang, Head of Sales at VietGoGo, a travel company specializing in Thailand tours. VietGoGo had more than 10 customers scheduled to arrive in Thailand on 25/7, mostly with itineraries in Bangkok and Pattaya, far from the border area. However, most have requested to postpone or reschedule their departures.

Pham Ngoc Son, a tourist from Phu Tho, canceled his planned trip to Thailand with his younger brother in September. As this was his brother's first international trip, he wanted everything to be perfect. "I don't think major tourist destinations like Bangkok or Phuket will be affected by the border issue," he said.

Son traveled to Yangon, Myanmar, last year during the civil war. Due to curfews, his trip did not go as planned.

After canceling his Thailand trip, Son decided to switch to China, a destination he has visited independently several times, with a comparable cost.

Viet Travel Company also reported that three groups have changed their Cambodia tour itineraries in the past 10 days. All requested to remove Siem Reap from their itineraries, opting only for Phnom Penh or other cities. In June, the company's Cambodian tourist numbers also decreased by nearly 40%. As of 25/7, some customers scheduled to depart for Cambodia in mid-August have started expressing safety concerns.

"Currently, the situation at the planned tourist destinations is normal, and we are working with our partners to find the best solutions for our customers," Vu said.

The company has not yet received any requests to postpone or cancel Thailand tours. However, Deputy General Director Pham Anh Vu said that no one booked Thailand tours on 24/7, which is unusual during the peak summer travel season.

Thai-Cambodia tensions escalated on 23/7 when Thai authorities accused Cambodia of planting landmines in a disputed border area where a clash in May injured a Thai soldier. Fighting erupted near the Ta Moan Thom Temple on the morning of 24/7 and later spread to other areas along the border. Thailand reported that the conflict has killed 20 people and injured dozens. The Cambodian Ministry of National Defense reported 13 deaths and at least 71 injuries.

Following a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council on 25/7, Cambodian Ambassador Chhea Keo called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the dispute. However, forces from both sides continued to clash at new locations on 26/7.

Hoai Anh