Tragedy Strikes: 34 Lives Lost as Tour Boat Capsizes in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay

A boat tragedy in Ha Long Bay has resulted in at least 34 fatalities, highlighting safety concerns in popular tourist areas. Efforts continue to locate survivors from the capsized vessel.

A catastrophic event unfolded on Saturday in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, when a tourist boat carrying 48 passengers and five crew members capsized due to a sudden and violent storm. State media reports indicate that at least 34 people have perished, with the rescue team recovering the bodies throughout the day. The boat was engaged in a sightseeing tour when high winds and towering waves led to its overturning, according to multiple sources.

Rescue operations, which included the Quang Ninh Province's naval commandos, managed to save at least 10 individuals from the turbulent waters, one of whom was a young boy who survived several hours submerged. Images revealed the boat’s hull precariously jutting out from the water, a haunting scene in the aftermath of the disaster.

Bui Cong Hoan, deputy chairman of the Ha Long Tourist Boat Association, referred to the incident as "the worst accident" in the bay over the last quarter-century. Tragically, among the deceased, eight children have been identified, and in one specific family, only the mother survived the ordeal.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has mobilized civil defense personnel along with the Defense and Public Security Ministries to bolster ongoing recovery efforts. At the time of the incident, the boat was returning from a visit to the stunning limestone caves of Dau Go, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay, a popular destination for domestic tourism.

This incident follows a history of maritime accidents in the region, including a 2022 speedboat capsizing that resulted in 17 fatalities, and more than 40 deaths from an overloaded ferry in 2009. The safety protocols for vessels in Vietnam's waterways have been brought into question as this tragedy unfolds.