In July 2025, news of military clashes on the Thai-Cambodia border dominated headlines around the world. Ever since, the border crossings between the two countries have been closed, and tensions have been high. Clashes between the two countries have resulted in casualties and hundreds of thousands of civilians being displaced on both sides. In recent weeks, tensions and clashes have intensified.
On 12 December 2025, the Swedish Foreign Ministry issued a red notice for areas 50 kilometers from the border, and on 16 December the Danish Foreign Ministry followed suit. The red notice includes the Trat Islands: Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Mak, popular spots for Scandinavians looking for a relaxing island paradise during the Christmas season.
Mie Kjer Albertsen from Denmark was very excited to go to the Trat Islands with her family and enjoy a relaxing Christmas holiday on Saturday 20 December.
“We were supposed to leave for a Christmas holiday to the Trat Islands on Saturday, and we had really been looking forward to it. But we were also worried when the news about the conflict came in. Now, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has updated their travel advisory, and we are relieved about that,” says Mie Kjer Albertsen.
She is relieved, as it means their travel insurance will now cover the cancellation.
“Now we need to figure out what to do instead. We don’t want to travel into a red zone.”
On the island of Koh Chang in the affected area lives Swedish Göran Erik Eriksson. He runs a business on the island and has come to Koh Chang annually for 15 years. He does not worry much about the Danish and Swedish Foreign ministries’ travel updates.
“The only change it has made in my life is that a lot of family and friends have reached out,” he says.
“Everything is exactly the same as always here. Luckily we still have a lot of tourists on the island, but of course there would be more if there were no problems at the border.”
Göran Erik Eriksson explains that he can understand how people traveling could be nervous, but personally he feels safe staying in Koh Chang. His only advice for visitors is to check their insurance.
“My only advice for people is to check your insurance and make sure it covers, if it doesn’t then get one that does. Mine covers.”
