Madame Pang apologizes: Focus on Vietnamese flag!

Madame Pang apologizes: Focus on Vietnamese flag!

In a significant step towards de-escalating tensions Mgronline reports that “มาดามแป้ง”, the president of the Thai Football Association, visited Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Nguyễn Huy Tăng on October 30, 2025. The occasion of this meeting was to formally apologize for the incorrect use of the Vietnamese national flag during the 2025 ASEAN Futsal Championship U19 draw held on October 28.

The use of the flag had sparked a wave of resentment in Vietnam. “มาดามแป้ง” was sensitive in her conversation with the ambassador and emphasized the cultural significance of the flag as a symbol of dignity and honor. As a sign of her apology, she presented a bouquet of flowers as a gesture of regret to the Vietnamese Football Association and the Vietnamese people.

Personal apology and reactions

Additionally, Ambassador Nguyễn Huy Tăng stated that he acknowledged the sincere apology and efforts to correct the error. Loud Innnews Adisak Benjathirawan, the association's vice president, will travel to Hanoi the following day to personally apologize to the president of the Vietnamese Football Association. This shows Thailand's commitment to taking the matter seriously and maintaining the friendship between the two countries.

Relations between Thailand and Vietnam have experienced a remarkable improvement in recent years. Both countries have agreed on a strategic partnership that includes political, economic and tourism cooperation. Next year they will celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations, which adds additional significance and urgency to this incident.

A look at the football rivalry

The rivalry between the two nations goes far beyond diplomatic achievements. How on Wikipedia described, the football competition between Vietnam and Thailand is considered one of the most important in Southeast Asia. In total, the national teams have played 58 games against each other since 1956, with Vietnam recording 25 wins and Thailand 22 wins. This rivalry is characterized not only by sporting ambition, but also by nationalism, which has occasionally led to tensions and even violent incidents.

In recent years, Vietnam has made notable progress in this rivalry, such as winning the 2008 AFF Championship, which brought the Vietnamese their first regional title. In the last meeting, the final of the 2024 ASEAN Championship, Vietnam triumphed 5-3, showing once again that this rivalry is more than just a football match - it is a reflection of the national identity and pride of both countries.

In conclusion, the diplomatic flag incident is not just a sporting matter, but also reflects the deep-rooted ties and relations between Thailand and Vietnam. The effort to have open dialogues and resolve misunderstandings is an important step towards a more harmonious future for both nations.