37 dead, 5 missing after tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay

At least 37 people have died and five remain missing after a tourist boat capsized in Vietnam’s popular Ha Long Bay during a sudden thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon, according to Vietnamese state media.

The vessel, named the Wonder Sea Boat, was carrying 48 tourists and five crew members, most of them Vietnamese families from Hanoi, including more than 20 children.

Rescue operations began immediately after the disaster, with 10 survivors pulled from the water by Saturday evening. Among them was a 14-year-old boy rescued after spending four hours trapped inside the overturned hull, and a 10-year-old who swam through debris and was rescued by soldiers.

Authorities recovered 37 bodies today morning, with four victims still unidentified. The salvaged boat has been brought ashore, and rescue efforts continue amid deteriorating weather conditions.

The Vietnam News Agency said the incident was triggered by extreme weather, including torrential rain, lightning, and violent winds caused by a convergence zone and intensified by three days of heat. The approaching Storm Wipha — currently building strength over the South China Sea—has also begun impacting northern Vietnam, including flight diversions in Hanoi and damage from strong gusts.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended condolences to the victims’ families and ordered a full investigation into the cause of the accident, promising that any violations will be dealt with strictly.

Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracts millions of tourists annually. This tragedy adds to a troubling record of maritime accidents in the area, including 30 vessels sinking during Typhoon Yagi last year in nearby Quang Ninh Province.