The Vietnamese sports delegation parades during the opening ceremony of the 33rd SEA Games at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Dec. 9, 2025. Photo by Read/Duc Dong
The Thailand Sports Organizing Committee (THASOC), the organizing body for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, has formally apologized to Vietnam following errors in the display of the country’s national map and flag at the opening ceremony on Dec. 9.
In a letter sent on Saturday, THASOC acknowledged that Vietnam’s territorial map was inaccurately presented during the third segment of the ceremony, titled “We Are One – Connected by the SEA,” held at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.
The digital display failed to include the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, as well as Phu Quoc Island.
“We recognize that this is a particularly sensitive issue, directly related to national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that it has caused discomfort to Vietnam,” the letter stated.
The incident sparked widespread criticism on Vietnamese social media and in the domestic press. Addressing the issue at a press briefing on Dec. 11, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pham Thu Hang affirmed that Vietnamese authorities had engaged with the SEA Games organizers regarding the error. She also used the platform to reaffirm Vietnam’s indisputable sovereignty over the two archipelagos under international law.
Beyond the map controversy, THASOC also apologized for technical errors during live broadcasts. This included the display of incorrect national flags for teams competing in the 3×3 basketball event, including Vietnam. Viewers noted multiple instances of incorrect graphics appearing on television during the first three days of competition from Dec. 10 to 12, though organizers claim the situation has improved since Dec. 12.
THASOC stated that it does not take these errors lightly and pledged to implement stricter checks to prevent recurrence.
“THASOC once again extends its sincere apologies to the President of the Vietnam Olympic Committee and all relevant parties for the inconvenience caused,” said Gongsak Yodmani, Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT).
“We wish to demonstrate our sense of responsibility and goodwill in safeguarding the image and reputation of Southeast Asia’s largest sporting event.”
This is not the first apology Thailand has issued to Vietnam during the Games. Earlier, THASOC apologized to both Vietnam and Laos after technical failures prevented the national anthems from playing before the match in men’s football Group B match on Dec. 3, forcing players to sing a cappella.
Protocol issues also occurred prior to the Games. In late October, during the draw ceremony for the 2025 Southeast Asian U19 Futsal Championship organized by the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), Vietnam’s flag was mistakenly displayed as China’s. The Vietnam Football Federation filed a formal protest, prompting FAT President Nualphan Lamsam to issue a written apology and dispatch a delegation to Hanoi while she visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand to apologize in person.
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