Fearful tourists cancel Ha Long Bay trips after deadly boat accident

On Saturday afternoon the Vinh Xanh 58 carrying 49 passengers, including more than 20 children, capsized during a sudden thunderstorm.

Two people are still missing.

A group of 20 employees at a tech company in Hanoi canceled their planned team-building trip to the bay, but the travel agency organizing their tour refused to refund their deposit, saying storm Wipha has already passed and the contract does not allow for cancellation.

As a result, the group went on the trip but skipped the bay tour, choosing instead to remain on shore.

"All of us were scared; no one dared to go out on the bay anymore," Anh Vu, one of the visitors, said.

"We negotiated with the tour company and accepted the loss of our VND5 million boat deposit for switching to a safer plan."

Scenery in Ha Long Bay on July 19, 2025 before the Vinh Xanh ship capsized. Photo by Brenda

Brenda, a tourist from Mexico, was on a Ha Long Bay cruise from July 17 to 19, and had returned to shore with her group by 1 p.m., just hours before the accident.

"I was shocked and saddened when I heard the news," she said.

"I felt grateful to be safe but terrified thinking I could have been a victim."

A cruise ship owner catering to international tourists said most bookings for July 24–25 have been canceled.

"Our ship has 20 cabins and typically serves 20–30 guests. Around 10 guests canceled this week alone."

They hoped things would stabilize within a week to 10 days.

A spokesperson for Paradise Vietnam, a major cruise operator, said the company rescheduled tours starting on July 19 and are awaiting official notice to resume full operations.

Sine 10–15% of all visitors have canceled or postponed their trips, mostly to the following week.

Tourism experts and psychologists are calling for swift action to restore public trust in the industry.

"Many tourists experienced a shattered sense of security," Dr Joe Othman, senior lecturer in psychology at RMIT Vietnam, said.

"The 'vacation bubble' is ruptured and replaced by a sense of vulnerability.

"Anxiety heightens for personal safety, and distrust of operators occurs.

"For boat owners, there may be a sense of guilt and 'what if' anxiety when people reflect on what would have happened if it were them in that situation."

To rebuild trust, authorities need to intensify safety checks, audit operators regularly and penalize those who breach regulations.

Public education campaigns and clear communication of weather warnings are critical, Dr Justin Matthew Pang, interim senior manager of the tourism and hospitality management program at RMIT, said.

Authorities should place blanket bans on boating during inclement weather, he said.

"Over time, dangerous practices will be ruled out, thereby creating a safety-driven, yet business-sustainable industry governed by responsible and best practices."