At a regular press briefing in Hanoi on May 29, with regard to Thailand-Cambodia border clash, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said Vietnam believes that all disagreements between Thailand and Cambodia will be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means, in accordance with both nations’ existing agreements, the spirit of ASEAN solidarity, and international law.

Hang made the remarks in response to media questions following an armed clash along the Thailand–Cambodia border the previous day.

“All information regarding the incident has already been made public by both sides, Cambodia and Thailand,” she said.

The brief exchange of gunfire took place on May 28 morning in the border area between Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province.

According to Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence, one Cambodian soldier was killed during the confrontation. The ministry said Thai troops opened fire on a position that had long been under Cambodian control.

Thai military spokesman Winthai Suvaree said Thai troops had tried to negotiate with their Cambodian counterparts and made no move to take over any contested area, but were fired upon.

“The Cambodian forces misunderstood the situation and opened fire first, prompting a Thai response,” he said, adding that the firefight lasted about 10 minutes. No Thai casualties were reported in the incident.

Also at the  press briefing, in reply to a question about the US government’s temporary suspension of new visas for international students and a recent announcement by the administration of President Donald Trump regarding restrictions on Harvard University’s enrollment of foreign students as well as the requirement for current international students to transfer or risk losing their legal status in the US, spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said the issue is of great concern to many Vietnamese families, parents, and students at this time.

According to the spokesperson, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnam’s diplomatic missions in the US are working with the US side to get more information on the issue.

“As we know, this is the time when many international students, including Vietnamese, are preparing to apply for visas to study in the US, whether on their own or through scholarship programs. We hope the visa application and interview process for Vietnamese students will proceed smoothly so that education can remain a key pillar of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations,” she said.

Commenting on the statement concerning Harvard University, Hang added, “We hope the US will continue to facilitate the participation of Vietnamese students, teachers, scholars, and experts in educational and training programs in the US, including at prestigious and high-quality institutions. This would be in line with the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the US, for peace, cooperation, and prosperous development.”

Vietnamese citizens in Middle East remain safe amidst conflicts: Spokesperson

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