HANOI — At least 27 people died after a tourist boat capsized in stormy weather in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay on Saturday, state media reported.
Waterway police officers carry a survivor for emergency treatment after a tourist boat capsized in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam, July 19, 2025. Photo: H.Q.
The boat, carrying 53 people, tipped over at around 2 p.m. local time (0700 GMT), as Storm Wipha approached the country across the East Vietnam Sea. Strong winds, heavy rainfall and lightning were reported in the area.
Most of the tourists were from the capital, Hanoi, local newspaper VnExpress reported. There was no official announcement on the nationality of the tourists as emergency crews kept looking for survivors.
Emergency crews approach the scene of a capsized tourist boat in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam, July 19, 2025. Photo: People’s Army Newspaper
Rescue teams found 11 survivors and recovered 27 bodies, eight of them children, the state-run Vietnam News Agency said, citing local authorities.
Ha Long Bay, about 200 km (125 miles) northeast of Hanoi, attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. Boat tours are hugely popular.
Rescue personnel continue search and recovery efforts after a tourist boat capsized in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam, July 19, 2025. Photo: Vietnam People’s Navy
Storm Wipha, the third typhoon to hit the East Vietnam Sea this year, is projected to make landfall along Vietnam’s northern coast early next week.
Weather linked to the storm also disrupted air travel. Noi Bai Airport said nine arriving flights were diverted to other airports, and three departing flights were temporarily grounded on Saturday.
Rescue personnel continue search and recovery efforts after a tourist boat capsized in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam, July 19, 2025. Photo: Vietnam People’s Navy
Another survivor recounted the fate of an entire family from Ho Chi Minh City — a couple and their three children — all perished together, found huddled in a corner of the submerged cabin. “We heard them screaming. Then silence.”
But what has ignited a firestorm of outrage across Vietnam are the disturbing accounts of the boat captain’s actions leading up to the sinking. Multiple survivors now claim they begged the captain to turn back as dark skies loomed and waves began to rise. But instead, the captain is alleged to have dismissed their concerns with chilling final words:
“We’re almost at the tourist site — just a little further. Don’t worry.”
Those were the last words many would hear before the boat suddenly listed to one side and began taking on water. According to crew members, the boat had no life rafts, inadequate life jackets, and had ignored official storm warnings issued that morning.
As rescue efforts continue and the death toll threatens to rise, officials have launched a full investigation into the tour operator’s licensing and the vessel’s safety compliance. The captain, who is among the deceased, is now at the center of the controversy — with families accusing him of recklessness and placing profit over lives.
