Aerial view of Angkor Wat. Photo livescience.com

HCM CITY — A Vietnamese TikToker might be banned from entering Cambodia for up to 10 years following a video he posted that depicted Angkor Wat temple in a negative light.

According to Prak Chandar, deputy state secretary of the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, a video made by the TikToker at the Angkor Wat temple complex “negatively impacted the image of Cambodian tourism”.

Cambodian authorities are contemplating a punishment for him and are considering banning him from entering the country for five to 10 years.

During his visit to Cambodia last month, Hứa Quốc Anh, a HCM City resident, shared a video on his TikTok account, which has 700,000 followers, featuring a girl in a traditional Thai costume walking around the temple. 

The video also included images of the Thai flag and king, accompanied by the sound “Hello Thailand”, which sparked criticism from both Vietnamese and Cambodian netizens.

The Angkor Wat World Heritage Conservation Authority (Apsara) has announced the video severely impacted Cambodia’s culture and heritage. 

TikTok has removed the content following a request by Cambodian authorities.

According to Hà Nội-based lawyer Đỗ Minh Hiền, Anh’s actions were carried out in Cambodian territory, and therefore are subject to Cambodian law.

Angkor Wat is a UNESCO world heritage site and is considered the heart and pride of the Cambodian people. The temple complex attracts millions of visitors each year from around the world.

In response to the situation, the HCM City Department of Culture and Sports is working with relevant agencies to verify the information and take appropriate action.

As the violation took place overseas, further verification is required before any action can be taken, the department said. 

Angkor Wat has been a source of contention between the Thai and Cambodian people for many years, according to international press.

While the iconic temple complex has been internationally recognised as Cambodian territory, some Thai individuals controversially claim that it belongs to Thailand. — VNS