At least 36 dead after tourist boat capsizes in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

At least 36 people were reported dead after a tourist boat capsized in Ha Long Bay on July 19. The vessel had 49 people onboard, according to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) when strong winds struck the region, causing the incident.

The boat Vịnh Xanh 58, registration number QN-7105, departed from the Ha Long International Passenger Port in Bãi Cháy Ward at around 13:30 local (LT) on July 19 with 49 people on board, including 46 passengers and three crew members. It was en route along Tour Route 2 of Ha Long Bay when it was hit by a sudden, violent thunderstorm near Đầu Gỗ Cave.

According to local media reports, the incident occurred at approximately 14:00 local time (07:00 UTC) on July 19 when strong winds caused the boat to overturn.

Some media reports also state 37 to 38 fatalities with the boat carrying around 53 people including five crew members, however this has not been confirmed by any local authorities.

Rescue teams recovered 36 bodies, at least eight of whom were children, according to the state-run Vietnam News Agency, citing local authorities. As of July 21 all people on the boat have been accounted for and the search has ended.

The fatalities also included a 6-year-old boy whose body was recovered on July 20. According to the provincial People’s Committee, the boy’s body was found near Ti Tốp Island during an expanded search operation.

The child had been travelling with his family as part of an eight-member group. His mother and two other relatives died in the incident. After the body was brought ashore, it was transferred to a medical facility for necessary post-mortem procedures.

Among the survivors was a 14-year-old boy who remained trapped for several hours in the ship’s submerged cabin before being rescued.

“Even though the ship overturned and the passenger compartment was locked, there was still a gap of about 50–60 cm (20–24 feet), enough for oxygen to enter, so the boy was still alive,” said Bui Cong Hoan of the Ha Long Cruise Ship Association told VNExpress. The teenager was later pulled out through a broken window by rescuers.

The People’s Army Newspaper, citing local border guards, reported that authorities have not yet confirmed details about the tourists, including their nationalities, as the rescue operation is ongoing.

Most of the passengers were tourists, including approximately 20 children, from the country’s capital city, Hanoi, according to the newspaper.

Weather models indicated that an area of low pressure was moving over the region at the time of the incident, which may have contributed to the severe weather.

While some reports indicate the incident was associated Typhoon Wipha, VNA confirmed that the incident was unrelated to the storm.

Wipha which made landfall over southern China on July 20, was located in the South China Sea, approximately 1 100 km (684 miles) east of Ha Long Bay and about 350 km (217 miles) west of Itbayat in the Philippines at the time of the incident.

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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