Recently, a video featuring Det Sreyneat (Miss Charm Cambodia 2025) went viral and not for the reasons the pageant hoped. The clip, meant to highlight Cambodia’s scenic beauty and heritage, stirred backlash from many Thai netizens. The reason? Language and style choices perceived as too familiar to Thailand’s own national identity.
Let’s unpack what happened, why people are upset, and what this says about cultural identity in modern Southeast Asia.
What Was in the Video
In the introduction video released on the official page of Miss Charm 2025, Det Sreyneat speaks about Cambodia’s temples, natural beauty, and heritage sites like Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear Temple.
But perhaps the most controversial moment is when she welcomes viewers with the phrase: “Welcome to Cambodia, the land of smiles…” echoing a slogan long associated with Thailand. On top of that, some claimed her outfit bore strong resemblance to traditional Thai attire.
Whether intentional or accidental, those elements struck a nerve with many fans of Thai culture.
Why Many Thai Netizens Were Offended
The Power of a Slogan
Slogans carry identity. For decades, “Land of Smiles” has been woven into Thailand’s tourism image. By using it for Cambodia, some felt the video blurred national boundaries. As one critic put it, “the slogan belongs to Thailand; Cambodia should pick its own identity.”
Dress and Cultural Symbols Matter
Traditional attire isn’t just costume it’s a badge of heritage and pride. If a dress resembles another country’s traditional wear, some see it as oversimplifying or even erasing cultural differences. That feeling fueled social media backlash.
A Broader Pattern of Cross-Cultural Tensions
This isn’t a one-off incident. Over recent years, there have been repeated online spats between Thai and Cambodian netizens over culture, cuisine, and heritage. This video reignited those debates.
What This Says About Identity and Soft Power in Southeast Asia
In a world where social media amplifies every cultural nuance, even tourism videos come under the spotlight. For nations like Thailand and Cambodia, image matters. Using a well-known slogan or visual style may seem like a shortcut but it can also trigger identity conflicts.
For Cambodia, perhaps the intent was to ride on a familiar phrase to attract international attention. But for many Thai viewers, it felt like crossing a line. In regions with shared histories, symbols, and a fine line between admiration and appropriation, this matters more than it might seem at first glance.
Quick Comparison: What Went Side by Side
| Element | In the Video | Why It Matters / Caused Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Opening phrase | “Land of Smiles” used to describe Cambodia | Phrase strongly linked to Thailand; seen as cultural borrowing |
| Traditional dress style | Dress allegedly resembled Thai attire | Blurs cultural attire distinctions between Cambodia and Thailand |
| Overall message | Celebrating Cambodia’s heritage, temples, beauty | Good intent but delivery sparked debate over identity borrowing |
Conclusion
The uproar over the Miss Charm Cambodia video shows how powerful and sensitive cultural symbols can be. What may seem like a minor detail a slogan here, a dress style there can touch the hearts and pride of entire nations. In a region where histories overlap and identities often intertwine, sensitivity matters. Tourism and pageants don’t exist in a vacuum. They carry the weight of national identity, memory, and pride.