KhmerTimes-Nov 5, 2026
The departure of the Villa Vie Odyssey sans passengers from Cambodia brought a new dimension to the controversy surrounding the stranded residential cruise ship, with analysts questioning international media coverage that linked its passengers’ plight to the country’s online scam industry despite the humanitarian assistance they received. The 650-passenger-capacity vessel left Sihanoukville shortly after midnight on Wednesday, bound for Singapore, where it is expected to be auctioned to the highest bidder. It departed without its about 200 passengers, who had been forced to disembark on Saturday amid the cruise operator’s financial difficulties. The incident attracted international attention, not only because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the cruise’s abrupt suspension but also because of the way some media outlets portrayed its stop in Cambodia. The Financial Times published a headline describing the passengers as having ended up in a Cambodian “scam town”, while other international coverage similarly emphasized Sihanoukville’s reputation as a center for online fraud operations. The framing prompted criticism from Cambodian analysts, who said the humanitarian response to the stranded travelers should be distinguished from the country’s ongoing struggle against online scams. Chheng Kimlong, president of the Asian Vision Institute, said Cambodia’s response should be understood through its longstanding commitment to humanitarian principles, recalling the government’s reception of the Westerdam cruise ship in February 2020 during the Covid-19 outbreak. At the time, Cambodia welcomed the vessel after several countries and territories had refused it permission to dock, earning international recognition as a small country with a big heart.
Kimlong said the same humanitarian principles guided the government’s response to the Odyssey, emphasizing that the immediate priority was ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers and crew members. Read more at:
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/502051320/odyssey-saga-puts-kingdoms-humanitarian-image-to-the-test/
