At least 37 dead as tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay

At least 37 people have been confirmed dead after a cruise ship carrying dozens of tourists capsized in Ha Long Bay, northern Vietnam, following a sudden and violent storm on Saturday afternoon.

The tragedy unfolded on July 19 at around 1:30 p.m. local time in Quang Ninh province, when the vessel, carrying 48 passengers—24 men and 24 women—encountered extreme weather. By 2:05 p.m., all contact with the ship had been lost, and it later sank beneath the bay’s waters, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Local media, including Tien Phong, wrote that most of the passengers were Vietnamese families from Hanoi visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site. Many were young people and children.

Despite harsh weather and heavy rain, emergency crews managed to rescue 11 survivors. However, the fate of several others remains uncertain, prompting an intensive search-and-rescue operation that continued overnight.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The government stated that any violations contributing to the disaster would be “strictly handled.”

Ha Long Bay, known for its emerald waters and iconic limestone formations, is among Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting over 4 million visitors in 2019 alone.

By Khagan Isayev