At least 38 dead after tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam
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A tourist boat capsized in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay during a thunderstorm, killing 38 and leaving several missing.
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Tourist boat Wonder Sea is towed to a shipyard for investigation after its capsizing, which killed multiple people in a thunderstorm in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, on July 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Huy Han)
At least 38 people were killed and several remain missing after a tourist boat capsized during a sudden thunderstorm in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay on Saturday afternoon.
Authorities confirmed that 12 people were rescued from the wreck, while search efforts continue for seven others.
The vessel, identified as the Wonder Sea, was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members on a sightseeing tour of Ha Long Bay, one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations.
🚨 Storm Hits Vietnam – 28 Dead as Boat Capsizes in Ha Long Bay
— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) July 19, 2025
A powerful storm sweep through Vietnam has caused a deadly boat accident in Ha Long Bay.
The vessel, carrying 48 tourists and 5 crew members, capsized amid turbulent conditions.
Among those onboard were many… pic.twitter.com/TmJ5IFhCFE
According to state media, the boat overturned due to strong winds and rough waters brought on by an unexpected thunderstorm.
The official Vietnam News Agency reported that all passengers were Vietnamese nationals, including a large group of children from Hanoi.
Survivors describe moments of terror
One survivor, Dang Anh Tuan, told the Associated Press he escaped by diving out of a window as the water flooded in. “It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake vigorously… Seconds later the boat overturned,” he said. “Water gushed in and I lost all orientation.”
Tuan survived by clinging to the boat’s overturned hull with three others for hours until rescue teams arrived. A 14-year-old boy was also found alive after being trapped inside the capsized boat for four hours.
In Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, a passenger boat carrying 48 passengers and 5 crew members capsized during todays storm. Rescue teams, including the Quang Ninh Provincial Border Guard, saved 12 people and recovered 3 bodies by 6:00pm. Search and rescue operations are ongoing. pic.twitter.com/ERJ1Eoptn8
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) July 19, 2025
Some passengers had reportedly requested the crew to return to shore before the incident, but were reassured that the destination was near, according to survivor accounts.
As of Sunday, several people were still missing. Weather authorities also reported that Storm Wipha, a tropical storm, is approaching northern Vietnam and is expected to affect the Ha Long Bay area in the coming week.
The tragedy has prompted calls for an investigation into safety practices and emergency response protocols for tourist vessels operating in the region.
