The death toll from a tourist boat accident in Vietnam’s Halong Bay has risen to at least 38, with several people still reported missing, authorities said, as rescue operations continue ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Wipha.

The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when a vessel carrying 48 tourists and five crew members capsized in the bay, one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations. It is considered one of the worst boating disasters in the country in recent years.

“At least 38 of those on board have been confirmed dead and 10 rescued,” the government said in a statement.

According to the official Vietnam News Agency, all the passengers were Vietnamese nationals, including several children.

A large-scale rescue effort is underway involving dozens of personnel from the border guard, navy, police, and professional diving teams. Despite calmer seas, poor visibility caused by adverse weather has hampered the search and rescue mission.

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Authorities have confirmed that the sunken boat has been retrieved.

The accident happened around 2 p.m. local time on Saturday, shortly after Typhoon Wipha entered the South China Sea. Officials said strong winds, heavy rain, and lightning were present in the area at the time, though these were not yet directly linked to the typhoon but rather local wind patterns in the northern region.

Halong Bay, located about 200 kilometers (125 miles) northeast of Hanoi, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and draws tens of thousands of tourists annually, with boat tours being a major attraction.

A similar tragedy occurred in 2011 when a tour boat sank in Halong Bay, claiming 12 lives, including foreign nationals.

Typhoon Wipha, the third storm to enter the South China Sea this year, is forecast to make landfall along Vietnam’s northern coast early next week.

Source: Agency

A tourist boat (in white) that capsized in an accident which killed dozens and left several people still missing, is towed back to the port in Halong Bay, Quang Ninh province, Vietnam, July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Thinh Nguyen Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

Item 1 of 3 A tourist boat (in white) that capsized in an accident which killed dozens and left several people still missing, is towed back to the port in Halong Bay, Quang Ninh province, Vietnam, July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Thinh Nguyen

HALONG BAY, Vietnam, July 20 (Reuters) – The death toll from a tourist boat accident in Vietnam’s Halong Bay climbed to at least 38 with several people still missing, the government said, as rescuers continued to search for survivors while bracing for the approach of Typhoon Wipha.

The vessel capsized on Saturday afternoon carrying 48 tourists and five crew members in one of the worst boating accidents in recent years in the popular tourist area.

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“At least 38 of those on board have been confirmed dead and 10 rescued,” the government said in a statement.

The official Vietnam News Agency reported that all the tourists were Vietnamese, including several children.

Dozens of rescuers, including border guards, navy personnel, police and professional divers, have been deployed. Although the sea had calmed, weather conditions limited visibility, making rescue operations difficult.

Rescuers managed to retrieve the sunken boat, the government said.

The accident took place around 2 p.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Saturday, soon after Typhoon Wipha entered the South China Sea.

Authorities reported strong winds, heavy rainfall and lightning in the area at the time of the incident, adding that these conditions were not yet influenced by the approaching typhoon but were due to wind patterns over the northern region.

Halong Bay, about 200 km (125 miles) northeast of Hanoi, attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. Boat tours are particularly popular.

In 2011 , the sinking of a tour boat in Halong Bay killed 12 people, including foreign tourists.

Typhoon Wipha, the third to hit the South China Sea this year, is projected to make landfall along Vietnam’s northern coast early next week.

Reporting by Phuong Nguyen; Editing by Edmund Klamann

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Ha Long Bay, Vietnam: The death toll from a tourist boat accident in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay climbed to at least 38 with several people still missing, the government said, as rescuers continued to search for survivors while bracing for the approach of Typhoon Wipha.

The vessel capsized on Saturday afternoon carrying 48 tourists and five crew members in one of the worst boating accidents in recent years in the popular tourist area.

“At least 38 of those on board have been confirmed dead and 10 rescued,” the government said in a statement.

The official Vietnam News Agency reported that all the tourists were Vietnamese, including several children.

HALONG BAY: The death toll from a tourist boat accident in Vietnam’s Halong Bay has risen to at least 38, with several people still missing, according to government officials.

Rescue efforts continue as authorities brace for the impact of Typhoon Wipha.

The boat, carrying 48 tourists and five crew members, capsized on Saturday afternoon in one of the worst maritime accidents in recent years in the popular tourist destination.

“At least 38 of those on board have been confirmed dead and 10 rescued,“ the government said in a statement.

All the tourists were Vietnamese, including several children, as reported by the official Vietnam News Agency.

Rescue teams, comprising border guards, navy personnel, police, and professional divers, have been deployed despite challenging weather conditions.

Although the sea has calmed, poor visibility has hindered search operations.

The sunken vessel has been retrieved, authorities confirmed. The accident occurred around 2 p.m. local time on Saturday, shortly after Typhoon Wipha entered the South China Sea.

Strong winds, heavy rain, and lightning were reported at the time, though officials clarified these conditions were unrelated to the typhoon but resulted from regional wind patterns.

Halong Bay, located about 200 km northeast of Hanoi, is a major tourist attraction, drawing tens of thousands annually for its scenic boat tours.

In 2011, a similar incident claimed 12 lives, including foreign tourists.

Typhoon Wipha, the third storm to enter the South China Sea this year, is expected to make landfall along Vietnam’s northern coast early next week. – Reuters

The tourist boat, which was carrying 53 people onboard when capsized, was being salvaged in Ha Long Bay. (EPA Images pic)

HALONG BAY : The death toll from a tourist boat accident in Vietnam’s Halong Bay climbed to at least 38 with several people still missing, the government said, as rescuers continued to search for survivors while bracing for the approach of Typhoon Wipha.

The vessel capsized on Saturday afternoon, carrying 48 tourists and five crew members in one of the worst boating accidents in recent years in the popular tourist area.

“At least 38 of those on board have been confirmed dead and 10 rescued,” the government said in a statement.

The official Vietnam News Agency reported that all the tourists were Vietnamese, including several children.

Dozens of rescuers, including border guards, navy personnel, police and professional divers, have been deployed.

Although the sea had calmed, weather conditions limited visibility, making rescue operations difficult.

Rescuers managed to retrieve the sunken boat, the government said.

The accident took place around 2pm local time (0700 GMT) on Saturday, soon after Typhoon Wipha entered the South China Sea.

Authorities reported strong winds, heavy rainfall and lightning in the area at the time of the incident, adding that these conditions were not yet influenced by the approaching typhoon but were due to wind patterns over the northern region.

Halong Bay, about 200km (125 miles) northeast of Hanoi, attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. Boat tours are particularly popular.

In 2011, the sinking of a tour boat in Halong Bay killed 12 people, including foreign tourists.

Typhoon Wipha, the third to hit the South China Sea this year, is projected to make landfall along Vietnam’s northern coast early next week.