Breaking News / Anti-China Riots Injure Thousands, Vietnam Tourism Authority Sends Letter to Taiwan: Please Keep Visiting

Reported by Chen Ziying / Taipei

Anti-China riots broke out in Vietnam last night (13th), with reports of Taiwanese-owned factories being vandalized in areas such as Binh Duong and Dong Nai, even affecting the willingness of Taiwanese travelers to visit Vietnam. In response, Nguyen Van Tuan, Director General of Vietnam’s National Administration of Tourism, rarely issued a letter to Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau Director Xie Weijun. The letter stated, “Vietnam has sovereignty over the South China Sea, but we deeply apologize for the actions of some protesters in industrial zones. We urge everyone to continue traveling to Vietnam in groups.”

The letter was addressed specifically to Xie Weijun, Director of the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation. It first provided background on the incident, then explained that Chinese individuals had acted unlawfully first by conducting construction in Vietnamese waters, which led local residents to protest against Chinese factories and demonstrate against Taiwanese as well. The Vietnamese government expressed deep regret and apology over the situation. However, it noted that authorities are actively handling the matter and striving to maintain peace, and emphasized that the affected areas are located far from tourist attractions, so there is no need for concern. The letter also urged Taiwan’s tourism authority and media to inform the public that they should still continue traveling to Vietnam in organized groups.

The full text of the letter is as follows: