3 more bodies found as capsized Ha Long Bay tourist boat brought ashore, raising death toll to 37

Name: 3 more bodies found as capsized Ha Long Bay tourist boat brought ashore, raising death toll to 37
Uploaded: 2025-07-20T08:20:07+07:00
Duration: 44 s
Description: The tourist boat carrying 53 people that overturned in Ha Long Bay was pulled ashore early Sunday, with the bodies of three crew members discovered inside, bringing the confirmed death toll to 37.

By Hoang Phuong July 19, 2025 | 05:20 pm PT

The tourist boat carrying 53 people that overturned in Ha Long Bay was pulled ashore early Sunday, with the bodies of three crew members discovered inside, bringing the confirmed death toll to 37.

At 1:30 a.m., the navy reported that the bodies were found in the cabin. The fate of the captain remains unknown.

So far, 37 people have been confirmed dead, 11 were rescued and 5 are still missing after the boat, named Wonder Sea, capsized on Saturday afternoon.

Rescue teams are now racing to search for the missing people as Storm Wipha is approaching the area.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, starting from Sunday evening, the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin will see strong winds, rising from level 6 (39-49 kph) to level 11 (103-107 kph), with gusts reaching level 14 (150-166 kph). Waves are expected to reach 3–5 meters high near the center of the storm and 2–4 meters elsewhere.

Lật và kéo tàu Vịnh Xanh 58 vào bờ — The Vinh Xanh 58 (Wonder Sea) boat was recovered early on July 20, 2025. Video courtesy of the navy

The Vinh Xanh 58 (Wonder Sea) ship set sail at 12:55 p.m. on Saturday with 48 tourists and 5 crew members for a sightseeing tour on route 2 of Ha Long Bay.

According to the itinerary, the captain and also the boat owner, Doan Van Trinh, was to take the guests to visit Cho Da, Dinh Huong, and Ga Choi islets, followed by Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, and Ti Top Island, before returning to port the same afternoon.

However, at 1:30 p.m., as the boat reached the eastern side of Dau Go Cave, it was suddenly struck by a storm. Strong winds tilted and flipped the 24-meter-long, 12-ton vessel, causing all passengers and crew to fall into the sea.

The Vinh Xanh 58 (Wonder Sea) boat being pulled to shore early on July 20, 2025.. Photo courtesy of the navy

Authorities mobilized nearly 300 personnel for the rescue operation, including border guards, the navy, police, and port authorities, and 30 vessels of various types. The navy deployed more than 20 special forces divers to assist in the search.