A tourist speedboat capsized in the waters off Phú Quốc island on Saturday afternoon, killing 15 Indian nationals and leaving two more in critical condition. The vessel was carrying 32 tourists and four crew members when it overturned near An Thới Sea at approximately 1 p.m. local time.
The Incident
The boat, operated by Ocean Pearl Island Company, was returning from Mây Rút Ngoài Island to An Thới Port when it suddenly capsized amid strong winds and high waves. All 36 people on board — tourists and crew alike — were thrown into the sea. Local reports indicate that 15 tourists were confirmed dead and 21 survivors were retrieved, though the condition of some remained precarious.
Sea Conditions at the Time
A tourism boat operator who participated in the rescue described the sea as having large swells but no rain at the moment of the capsize. Notably, other tourist vessels were still operating in the same waters at the time. That detail raises questions about whether the specific boat, its load, or its handling contributed to the disaster beyond general weather conditions, and will likely form a central thread in the ongoing investigation.
Rescue Response
Authorities mobilized quickly after the alert was raised. Police units, military personnel, and medical teams were dispatched to the scene along with rescue vessels. The speed of the response meant that 21 people were pulled from the water alive, though two of those survivors remained in a critical state following the rescue operation.
Government Notification
The An Giang People's Committee filed an emergency report directly to the Prime Minister's office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The involvement of foreign nationals — all victims were Indian citizens — elevates the incident to a diplomatic as well as domestic administrative matter. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will likely coordinate with India's embassy in Hanoi on the identification of victims and consular support for survivors.
Phú Quốc's Tourism Profile
Mây Rút Ngoài Island, where the tourists had been visiting before the capsize, is one of the more popular day-trip destinations in the Phú Quốc archipelago. The southern island province has seen rapid growth in international arrivals over the past decade, with direct charter and scheduled flights now connecting it to several Indian cities. Indian tourists have become a notable and growing segment of Phú Quốc's visitor mix, making the incident particularly significant for bilateral tourism ties.
Investigation Under Way
Authorities have opened a formal investigation into the capsize. Key questions include whether Ocean Pearl Island Company had proper operating licenses and safety certifications, whether the boat's passenger load was within legal limits, and whether conditions at sea met the threshold for suspending tourist boat operations. Vietnam has faced recurring concerns about maritime safety standards in its island tourism corridors, and the outcome of this inquiry may prompt a broader review of speedboat licensing and weather-suspension protocols across coastal resort areas.
The human toll — fifteen lives lost on what was a leisure trip — will weigh heavily on Phú Quốc's reputation as a safe international destination. Transparent findings from the investigation, and any resulting enforcement action, will matter as much to future visitor confidence as to the families of those who did not return from the water.
