Authorities in Vietnam are continuing a large-scale search for four people still missing after a tourist boat capsized during a sudden thunderstorm in Ha Long Bay, killing at least 35 passengers. The disaster, which struck one of the country’s most iconic tourist destinations on Sunday afternoon, is among the deadliest to occur in the UNESCO World Heritage site.
The vessel, carrying 49 Vietnamese tourists including several children, was overwhelmed by a powerful storm around 2:00pm local time. The storm swept across the bay with intense winds, rain, and lightning, catching passengers and crew off-guard. Rescue operations began immediately, involving hundreds of personnel from police, border guards, navy divers, and local authorities.
Despite calm seas in the aftermath, rescue teams faced limited visibility and adverse conditions, with Typhoon Wipha looming nearby and expected to make landfall in northern Vietnam later in the week. As of Monday, the government confirmed the recovery of 35 bodies and lowered the initial death toll from 38 after confirming updated passenger figures.
“The boat was retrieved from the water, but the search continues for the missing,” a government spokesperson said, warning that the final toll could still rise.
All victims aboard the vessel were Vietnamese nationals, according to the official Vietnam News Agency. Family members gathered at a local funeral parlour on Sunday, mourning the sudden loss of loved ones. Tran Trung Tu, 39, whose younger brother was among the dead, said: “My brother could swim, but I was told everything happened too fast.”
Ha Long Bay, located about 200 kilometres northeast of Hanoi, is world-renowned for its thousands of limestone karsts and islets. It attracts tens of thousands of domestic and international tourists each year. The latest incident is the deadliest since a 2011 boat sinking in the bay that killed 12 people, including foreign tourists.
Witnesses described how the storm developed rapidly, darkening the sky within minutes and toppling trees even in Hanoi, where nine flights were diverted and several others delayed at Noi Bai International Airport.
“I was told life vests were available, but it was too sudden,” said local resident Do Van Hai. “Hopefully, the missing will be found soon.”
Authorities have blamed the incident on the “sudden” and severe nature of the storm. Insurance agent Do Thi Thuy, who witnessed the aftermath, said: “It is the first time I have experienced an accident with so many casualties here.”
Investigations are underway to determine whether safety regulations were followed and if any warnings were issued prior to the storm.
