Vietnam Tour Boat Accident: Survivor Shares Harrowing Escape from Capsized Vessel in Ha Long Bay

A deadly boat accident in Vietnam’s famous Ha Long Bay has left at least 38 people dead, with five still missing. The disaster happened when a tour boat overturned during a sudden storm, shocking the country and raising safety concerns for travelers. One survivor, Dang Anh Tuan, has shared his terrifying experience of escaping the capsized vessel.

What Happened

On Saturday afternoon, the Wonder Sea tour boat set off for a three-hour cruise around Ha Long Bay, one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations. On board were 48 passengers and five crew members.

But the trip took a tragic turn when a storm rolled in unexpectedly. Heavy rain and strong winds hit the boat, causing it to overturn. According to Vietnamese state media, 38 people were confirmed dead, and five more were still missing as of the latest updates.

Only a few people managed to survive, including Tuan, who described what happened in detail.

Survivor Describes the Chaos

Dang Anh Tuan, a 36-year-old fire extinguisher salesman from Hanoi, was traveling with a group of 11 university friends. Sadly, only three of them survived.

Tuan said the weather changed quickly. “It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake vigorously,” he told The Associated Press. “Tables and chairs were jostled around, and seconds later the boat overturned.”

When the vessel capsized, water rushed inside. Tuan said he lost all sense of direction as he struggled to breathe.

“I tried to breathe. But more water came in. I took a deep breath, got rid of my life vest, and dove down,” he recalled. “I saw a streak of light and followed it to swim out, escaping the boat. Then I climbed on the overturned boat to look for help.”

Clinging to Survival

Tuan and three others managed to survive by hanging on to the overturned boat and its propellers. They stayed there for nearly two more hours, waiting in the rain until rescuers arrived.

According to VNExpress, rescue workers were able to save 11 people, but one later died in the hospital due to injuries. Among the survivors was a 14-year-old boy who had been trapped for four hours inside the boat’s hull before being pulled out alive.

The capsizing was blamed on strong winds that struck the boat as it approached its destination in the bay.

A Holiday Turned Tragic

Most of the passengers on the Wonder Sea were tourists from Hanoi, including about 20 children. Tuan’s group of 12 friends had planned the trip as a holiday together. Tragically, nine of them died, including one man who had brought his wife and 3-year-old son. Both the mother and child also drowned.

While Tuan suffered only minor cuts, one of his surviving friends had serious head injuries. The other had tendons in his legs severed by broken glass while escaping through a window.

Weather Warnings Ahead

The boat tragedy comes as Vietnam faces more dangerous weather. A tropical storm named Wipha is expected to hit the northern region of the country in the coming days, including Ha Long Bay’s coastline.

National weather forecasts have warned of strong winds, heavy rain, and possible flooding. Authorities are urging residents and tourists to stay alert and take precautions.

Ongoing Search and Investigation

Search teams continue to look for the five people still missing after the capsizing. Meanwhile, officials are expected to investigate the accident, including the tour company’s safety procedures and why the boat didn’t return to shore when the storm began.

The crew reportedly told passengers that they were “almost at the destination” and decided not to turn back, despite requests from those on board. That decision, survivors say, may have cost lives.

This tragic incident has shaken the nation and sparked calls for better safety measures on tour boats, especially in areas like Ha Long Bay where weather can change quickly.

As Vietnam mourns the loss of dozens of lives, many are hoping that lessons will be learned to prevent future tragedies.

Source: AP News – Vietnam tour boat survivor describes his escape