After five days of devastating violence, which left dozens dead and displaced hundreds of thousands of people along the 800 km border, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an ‘immediate and unconditional’ ceasefire starting at midnight yesterday.

While the border between Cambodia and Thailand has been ablaze since 24 July 2025, forcing nearly 200,000 people onto the roads and causing more than thirty deaths in less than a week, a mobilisation of rare magnitude has gripped the Cambodian people and its diaspora.

Monday, 28 July 2025. Under international pressure and after five days of deadly fighting on the border, Thailand and Cambodia have finally agreed to an ‘immediate and unconditional’ ceasefire. This truce, solemnly announced during talks in Kuala Lumpur under the auspices of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has left the regional community hanging on a fundamental question: will the Thai army really respect the ceasefire?

Phnom Penh – 28 July 2025 – The leaders of Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to implement an immediate and unconditional ceasefire starting at midnight tonight, announced His Excellency Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, at a press conference held in Putrajaya following a closed-door meeting this afternoon.

The reputation of Thailand and Cambodia as tourist destinations is undoubtedly facing one of its most severe tests in decades. With the recent flare-up of the border conflict, the key question remains: can this reputation survive the crisis?

The fighting, centred on the disputed areas of Prasat Ta Muen Thom and the ‘Emerald Triangle’, has already left more than 30 people dead and displaced nearly 200,000. Between diplomatic interventions, a humanitarian crisis and political tensions, the future of the region remains complicated and uncertain.

Be wary of statements on social media seeking to justify the border crisis as American manipulation aimed at supplying more weapons to Thailand. While this is not impossible, it remains highly unlikely, as the US is already the leading supplier and American motivations seem to be more focused on economic stability and even Trump's desire for recognition as a ‘peace power’.

The economic dynamism between Cambodia and Thailand has long been a regional showcase for ASEAN, marking an era of integration, growing trade and productive complementarity. Over the years, Thailand has established itself as a major investor in Cambodia, while Cambodian companies, although smaller in volume, are also seeking to establish a presence in their neighbour.

In the current turmoil engulfing the border between Thailand and Cambodia, one name stands out, both a symbol of military history and a figure of strategy: Chakrabongse Bhuvanath. However, behind this name that resonates throughout the ranks of the army, there is no living general at the head of the army, but rather a prince from the past who has become a military icon whose ‘Chakrabongse Bhuvanath plan’ still guides Bangkok's iron fist in the face of border tensions.

In the heart of the Kulen district in Preah Vihear province, the Wat Por 5000 Safety Centre has become a silent symbol of the divisions affecting the border between Cambodia and Thailand. This vast space, originally a spiritual sanctuary, is now the last refuge for thousands of civilians caught up in the turmoil of a border conflict where history, geopolitics and human lives collide with brutal force.

As the border between Thailand and Cambodia flares up again, Cambodian society is reacting with an intensity rarely seen since the end of the Khmer Rouge conflict. The recent clashes, triggered by territorial disputes, have left dozens dead and caused more than 120,000 civilians to flee along the border.

Despite ceasefire announcements, the border remains the scene of worrying clashes, with President Trump's diplomatic intervention failing to silence the guns.

On 15 June 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered a landmark decision in the dispute between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand concerning the territorial sovereignty of the Temple of Preah Vihear. This judgment, the result of a thorough analysis of historical, geographical and legal factors, marks a major milestone in bilateral relations and underscores the importance of international law in the peaceful resolution of border disputes.

Beyond the noise of weapons, a diplomatic theatre is also taking shape, with Thailand repeatedly rejecting any direct external mediation, particularly with regard to Cambodia's request for third-party intervention. Why this categorical refusal of third-party mediation, when the international community is stepping up its calls for peace?

In Southeast Asia, long cited as a model of concerted growth and regional integration, the explosion of conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has upset the fragile balance of the Indochinese peninsula. With exchanges of gunfire, deadly explosions, a flurry of diplomatic expulsions and sealed borders, the rivalry between Bangkok and Phnom Penh has now reached a level of intensity not seen since the Preah Vihear temple crisis

Following a rapid and unexpected escalation, the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia reached a dramatic peak on 25 July 2025. Artillery fire lit up the sky once again, as fear and the sound of weapons dominated the daily lives of more than 138,000 displaced civilians on the Thai side and thousands more Cambodians fleeing border villages.

Groups of elderly men and women walking together just before sunrise have long been a common morning sight in Phnom Penh, but the capital is now seeing an increase in the number of lone joggers hitting the streets for exercise at that time as well.

Even in rainy weather, Koh Tonsay – Rabbit Island – remains decidedly photogenic. The peaceful and serene beach island, dotted with a few Cambodian-style huts, did not attract many visitors during the Pchum Ben weekend due to bad weather, providing an opportunity to take some peaceful ‘rainy’ shots.

When Cambodia and Thailand clash, particularly over sensitive border territories such as the Preah Vihear temple, the media unfortunately invite themselves to play a role in the crisis.

No longer content with being a mere consumer of international brands, the kingdom is currently experiencing an exciting boom in local cosmetics brands and initiatives that combine local heritage with global trends.

Amidst the bustling streets and ancient pagodas of Phnom Penh, few ceremonies capture the spirit of Cambodian society like the traditional Khmer wedding.

The Cambodian economy entered the first half of 2025 at a turning point, balancing robust exports with the fragility of certain internal drivers. Driven by international demand, particularly from the United States and the European Union, and by a gradual recovery in tourism, economic growth remains positive despite headwinds.

On Thursday, 24 July 2025, gunfire broke out on the border between Thailand and Cambodia. The clashes are considered the most serious crisis between the two countries in 15 years.

Rising regally along Phnom Penh’s riverside, Hotel Cambodiana stands as more than an address—it is a chronicle inscribed with Cambodia’s greatest expectations and historic struggles.