Vietnam Boat Accident: Indian tourists were taking photos, then the boat overturned… Eyewitness described the painful scene of Vietnam accident

By Samira Vishwas On Jul 12, 2026

Vietnam Boat Tragedy: For Indian tourists visiting Vietnam, the holiday trip turned into mourning within a few minutes. Famous tourist destinations in southern Vietnam 15 Indians killed when tourist boat capsizes near Phu Quoc island It happened, while 21 people were saved safely. It is being told that there were a total of 32 Indians on the boat. The accident happened so suddenly that the passengers did not even get a chance to recover.

According to eyewitnesses, the boat had moved only 300 to 400 meters from the shore when suddenly it capsized amid strong waves and bad weather. At that time most of the passengers were busy taking pictures and making videos. No one had any idea that after a few seconds the entire scene would change.

How did the accident happen?

This accident happened near Hon May Rut Ngoai island of An Thoi Archipelago of Vietnam. According to local time, the boat went out into the sea at around 1:30 pm. According to initial information, suddenly high waves arose in the sea and the boat lost its balance. Within a few moments the entire boat overturned.

People from other boats passing nearby were the first to start the rescue operation. After this, Vietnam’s Coast Guard, Navy, Border Guard and rescue agencies reached the spot. Many passengers were trapped inside the boat, so the rescue operation was very difficult.

‘We were taking photos, then everything ended’

Ashish Kumar, a resident of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, who survived the accident, said that the boat had barely moved a few hundred metres. He said, “We were all taking photographs. Suddenly the boat overturned. We did not even get a chance to recover. There was screaming everywhere.”

People from which states became victims of the accident?

According to the Indian Embassy, among the dead, 10 people are from Tamil Nadu, 3 from Andhra Pradesh and 2 from Kerala. It is being told that many channel partners and employees of Lava International were also among the dead. The company has said that it is in touch with the victims’ families and all possible assistance is being provided.

It is with profound grief that we share the list of 15 Indian nationals who have lost their lives in the tragic boat accident near Phuc Quoc Island today. The list has been received from the Vietnamese authorities. Our prayers are with the families of the deceased. The Embassy… pic.twitter.com/2fr2TjXuPp
— India in Vietnam (@AmbHanoi) July 11, 2026

Karthikeyan, brother of one of those killed in the Vietnam boat accident, has appealed to the Central and State governments to bring back the body. Karthikeyan said, “My younger brother, Murugaprabhu Arumugam, had gone to Vietnam three days ago. We received the sad news that he has died in a boat accident. We appeal to the state and central governments to take immediate steps to bring his body back to India.”

What steps were taken by the Indian Government and the Embassy?

Immediately after the accident, the Indian Embassy in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi set up control rooms to help the affected families. Expressing deep grief over the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said that the Indian Embassy is in constant touch with the Vietnam administration. President Draupadi Murmu and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also expressed grief over the accident and appealed to provide all possible assistance to the victim’s families.

Vietnam government ordered investigation

The Prime Minister of Vietnam has ordered a high-level investigation into the accident. Officials have been instructed to find out what was the real cause of the accident and if anyone’s negligence comes to light, then strict legal action should be taken against them. Besides, marine tourism and waterways security system will also be reviewed.

What is the biggest challenge now?

At present, the Indian Embassy is assisting in bringing the bodies of the dead to India and treating the injured. The investigating agencies are trying to find out whether the accident happened only due to bad weather or ignoring safety rules also became the reason for it. This accident once again reminds us how important it is to follow safety standards even at tourist places. A few minutes of carelessness or natural disaster sometimes changes the lives of dozens of families forever.