Thai police are investigating a 56-year-old Vietnamese-American woman suspected of using cyanide-laced tea to poison five fellow Vietnamese nationals at a luxury hotel in Bangkok. The suspect, is believed to have orchestrated the deaths to resolve a financial dispute, according to Pol Maj Gen Nopasilp Poonsawat, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau.
Chong, originally from Vietnam, reportedly invited her victims to the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in the city’s commercial and diplomatic district for out-of-court negotiations related to investments in construction projects. The victims, who included a couple with a 10 million baht stake in a hospital project in Japan, had previously taken legal action due to lack of progress in the ventures.
On Monday, Chong met her five compatriots in room 502, where she had earlier ordered food and tea from room service. Hotel staff noted she insisted on preparing the tea herself, declining assistance. Security footage showed the group arriving with their luggage but not leaving the room afterward. The bodies of Chong and her five guests were discovered the following evening by a hotel maid.
Forensic analysis confirmed cyanide as the cause of death. Residue was found in the used teacups and tea bags collected from the room. “Cyanide cuts off the oxygen supply to the cells of the heart and neural systems,” explained Assoc Prof Dr. Kornkiat Vongpaisarnsin, head of the forensics department at Chulalongkorn University. Further tests will determine the exact amount of cyanide and the presence of any other poisons.
Police are currently tracing the origin of the cyanide and investigating whether it was smuggled into Thailand or sourced locally. They are also examining CCTV footage to track a person named “Tiger,” who allegedly delivered medicine to the hotel on Chong’s behalf.
The victims were identified as Dang Hung Van, 55; Tran Dinh Phu, 37; Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan, 47; and a couple: Nguyen Thi Phuong, 46; and Pham Hong Thanh, 49. The guide for the group, Phan Ngoc Vu, 35, is being questioned by police. Vu admitted to buying a popular Vietnamese tonic at Lan’s request and delivering it to the hotel, but denied further involvement.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand is actively collaborating with Thai authorities to support the investigation and assist the victims’ families. Ambassador Pham Viet Hung affirmed the embassy’s commitment to ensuring a thorough and effective inquiry. “We are working closely with Thai authorities to identify the victims and support their families in repatriating the remains,” he said.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and senior police officials have been commended for their prompt response to the incident. The embassy is also coordinating with Vietnam’s immigration department to verify the identities of the victims based on passport information.
