Brian Jeffrey
A directive was issued to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Public Security, as well as the Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand.
The Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, instructed the Ministry of Public Security to collaborate with Thai authorities in investigating the deaths of six Vietnamese individuals in Bangkok, Thailand. The Ministry was also tasked with providing information about the victims’ families to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to aid in citizen protection efforts.
The directive reads: On July 16, Thai police found six bodies at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok’s Pathum Wan district, comprised of four Vietnamese citizens and two Vietnamese-Americans. Initial suspicions suggest poisoning. Thai authorities are currently probing the incident.
The Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to closely collaborate with Thai authorities during the investigation, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens, and proactively handle any foreign affairs matters with Thailand. The Ministry is also required to promptly provide comprehensive and unbiased information about the case to the media and the public.
The Ministry of Public Security is to cooperate in the investigation at the behest of Thai authorities and provide information about the victims’ families to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for citizen protection.
The Prime Minister also directed the Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand to oversee the embassy’s vigilant monitoring of the case, report on the investigation’s progress, and assist the victims’ families with necessary post-incident procedures.
Witness Account of Tour Guide Linked to 6 Vietnamese Deaths in Bangkok
At Lumphini Station, police interrogated Phan Ngoc Vu, 35, a tour guide for the group of six Vietnamese individuals who died in Bangkok. Vu disclosed that he was familiar with one of the deceased, Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan.
As reported by Bangkok Post and Khaosod, Vu revealed that he knew Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan previously and was requested by her to procure snake medicine, a type of medication for joint pain, costing 11,000 baht from July 3-5. Vu stated he was instructed to purchase “Brand No. 7 Snake Medicine,” a popular tonic among Vietnamese, available in stores around Lat Krabang, Bangkok.
Vu mentioned contacting another guide named “Tiger” to link up with Lan and deliver the medicine to the hotel. Investigators are reviewing security footage to locate this second guide.
A Thai source mentioned, “If Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan was one of the buyers of the poison, she would be considered another suspect in this poisoning case.”
Investigators also questioned Lan’s husband, Hung, for five hours. Hung stated he was separated from Lan and unaware of her business dealings. However, he had a video call with her before her demise.
According to Thai authorities, Hung, a businessman, had asked the guide to exchange money for Lan’s sister. The sister returned to Vietnam on July 10. Vu exchanged 70 million VND for about 90,000 baht and delivered the money to Lan’s sister, who had been accompanying Dang Van Hung, one of the six victims. Following the money exchange, Lan’s sister returned to Da Nang the following day.
Thu Hang – Hoai Linh
