Fake videos of Ha Long Bay boat tragedy threaten tourism reputation

On Saturday afternoon the Vinh Xanh 58 carrying 49 people including over 20 children capsized in a sudden thunderstorm, killing 35 and leaving four unaccounted for.

By evening many people had posted videos on social media falsely claiming to show the accident, with captions like "Close-up of the tragic shipwreck in Quang Ninh" and "Tourist boat sinks in Quang Ninh."

But many of them were quickly identified as unrelated, deceptive content aimed at generating views.

They included footage from Typhoon Yagi last year showing a large overnight luxury cruise ship completely different from the smaller, daytime tourist vessel that sank this week.

A video screenshot shows a fanpage posting a video of a ship sinking during Typhoon Yagi but captioning it as the July 19 boat accident in Ha Long.

Other clips reused scenes from a boat disaster in Congo in October 2024 in which at least 78 people died.

The misinformation triggered confusion and concern online. In the comments section of these posts, some users wondered how such large ships could capsize so easily, raising doubts about safety and construction standards in Ha Long Bay.

A spokesperson for the Quang Ninh Province Department of Tourism said individuals and fanpages had been spreading false information about the boat accident.

"In this sensitive time, such misleading content creates confusion and negatively impacts the image of local tourism."

They added that the department would complain to authorities and seek an investigation.

Pham Ha, chairman of Lux Group, which operates luxury cruises in Lan Ha Bay and Nha Trang, warned that such fake content could damage tourist confidence.

"Posting videos of luxury overnight ships that have nothing to do with the accident could wrongly suggest that even top-tier cruises are unsafe.

"In fact, large overnight ships are highly stable and do not easily capsize."

A cruise operator in Ha Long Bay explained that the Sea Wonder was a small, flat-bottomed vessel designed for calm daytime conditions and more vulnerable to rough weather unlike larger, heavier ships with better stability.

Bui Thanh Tu, marketing director of tour operator Best Price, also warned that the spread of fake videos could hurt tourism in the bay.

"Many viewers will not know what’s real and what’s fake. That leads to unfair assumptions about the quality and safety of all cruises."

Ha Long Bay remains one of Vietnam’s top tourist draws, attracting millions each year with its emerald waters and towering limestone islands.