HA LONG BAY, Vietnam, July 19, 2025 – A tourist boat carrying 53 people capsized in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay on Saturday afternoon, killing at least 34 people and leaving eight others missing, state media reported. The tragic incident occurred during a sudden thunderstorm, which authorities say caused the vessel to overturn due to strong winds.
The Wonder Sea boat, carrying 48 passengers—mostly Vietnamese families from Hanoi, including around 20 children—and five crew members, was on a sightseeing tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site when the storm struck at approximately 2:00 p.m. local time (0700 GMT). According to VNExpress, heavy rain, lightning, and hailstones described as “big as toes” accompanied the storm, which was not directly linked to Tropical Storm Wipha, expected to make landfall along Vietnam’s northern coast early next week.
Rescue operations, involving Vietnamese Border Guards, naval commandos, and local authorities, saved 11 people and recovered 34 bodies, at least eight of which were children. Among the survivors was a 14-year-old boy, rescued after being trapped in the overturned hull for four hours, and a 10-year-old boy who described swimming through a gap and calling for help before being pulled to safety by a boat with soldiers. Seven people remain missing, with divers searching the capsized ship’s cabin and surrounding waters into the night.
“It’s the worst accident I’ve known in Ha Long Bay in the last 25 years,” said Bui Cong Hoan, deputy chairman of the Ha Long Tourist Boat Association. The boat had been sailing near Dau Go Cave, one of the bay’s largest, when it lost its GPS signal around 2:05 p.m., according to the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed condolences to the victims’ families and ordered the Defense and Public Security Ministries to intensify search and rescue efforts. Authorities have pledged to investigate the incident and “strictly handle violations,” according to a government statement.
Ha Long Bay, located about 200 km (125 miles) northeast of Hanoi, is one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting millions annually to its blue-green waters and limestone islands. The incident follows a history of maritime accidents in the region, including the sinking of 30 vessels during Typhoon Yagi last year and a 2022 speedboat capsizing in Quang Nam that killed 17 tourists.
The storm also disrupted air travel, with Noi Bai Airport reporting nine diverted incoming flights and three grounded departures on Saturday. As rescue efforts continue, the tragedy underscores the risks of sudden weather changes in the region’s busy tourist areas.
