On Saturday, July 11th, a tragic incident occurred in the waters of Phu Quoc, a popular tourist destination in southern Vietnam, where a sightseeing boat capsized. Due to rough sea conditions, at least 15 out of the 36 people onboard the boat, all of whom were Indian tourists, have lost their lives.
According to official reports and data verified by the embassy, the boat was carrying a total of 36 individuals at the time of the incident. Among them were 32 Indian tourists, with the unfortunate loss of 15 lives, while the remaining 21 have been successfully rescued. Apart from the tourists, the boat’s 4 crew members (including 3 local sailors and 1 onboard service staff) are reported to be safe.
The incident occurred as the tourist boat was departing from Hon May Rut Ngoai Island, located to the south of Phu Quoc, en route to An Thoi Port. However, approximately 400 meters from the shore, the boat suddenly capsized. Local authorities have pointed out that the weather and sea conditions in the area were extremely severe at the time, with strong winds and huge waves causing the boat to lose control and overturn, trapping many tourists inside the capsized vessel.
Following the accident, border forces and rescue units swiftly responded to the scene, with several nearby tourist boats also joining the rescue efforts. By the afternoon, all individuals onboard had been located and brought back to the shore, where multiple ambulances awaited to urgently transport the surviving injured passengers to hospitals for treatment. Currently, local cleanup operations and investigations into the exact cause of the accident are ongoing.
The Indian Embassy in Vietnam has described the incident as a “tragedy” in a statement, promptly setting up emergency response centers in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to aid the affected tourists’ families. Indian Prime Minister Modi later issued a condolence statement expressing grief for the families of the victims.
Phu Quoc Island, renowned for its “visa-free zone” policy, has become one of Vietnam’s most popular international tourist destinations in recent years, spanning an area of approximately 589 square kilometers. Its picturesque island scenery and convenient visa policies have attracted numerous group tours and independent travelers from India in recent years, making this significant boat capsizing incident all the more unexpected.
Apart from tourism, Phu Quoc Island is best known in Vietnam for its production of premium fish sauce and high-quality black pepper.