At least 28 people have died and more than a dozen are missing after a tourist boat capsized in Vietnam’s famed Ha Long Bay on Saturday, according to state media reports. The boat was ferrying families around the UNESCO World Heritage site when it overturned due to sudden heavy rain.
Vessel Details and Casualties
The vessel was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members at the time of the incident. Most on board were families visiting from the capital, Hanoi, with over 20 children among the passengers, as reported by the VNExpress news site.
Border guards rescued 12 people and recovered 18 bodies from the water shortly after the accident. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with teams continuing their search into the night for those still unaccounted for.
Response from Authorities
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and has urged the defense and public security ministries to carry out urgent search and rescue operations. A statement from the government confirmed that authorities would “investigate and clarify the cause of the incident and strictly handle violations.”
Torrential rain also affected northern Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, and Bac Ninh provinces on Saturday, leading to strong winds that knocked down several trees in the capital.
Weather Context and Safety Concerns
The storm hit following three days of intense heat, with temperatures soaring to 37 degrees Celsius in some regions. Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, clarified that the thunderstorms in northern Vietnam were not caused by the incoming Tropical Storm Wipha in the South China Sea.
Ha Long Bay: A Popular Tourist Destination
Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most sought-after tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors each year to its stunning blue-green waters and limestone islands. However, safety concerns have been raised previously; last year, 30 vessels sank in boat lock areas along Ha Long Bay due to rough waters caused by Typhoon Yagi.
In a related incident earlier this month, a ferry sank off the popular Indonesian resort island of Bali, resulting in at least 18 fatalities.
As of the latest reports from Ha Long Bay, authorities have recovered 27 bodies—including 8 children—and rescued 11 people after the tragic incident. Further updates will be provided as search and rescue efforts continue.
