The move came following a speedboat capsizing off Vietnam’s largest island Phu Quoc that killed 15 Indian tourists on July 11.
The Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration, Vietnam Register, and provincial construction department were instructed to coordinate with the Border Guard, Coast Guard, public security and local authorities to determine the cause of the accident, deal with its aftermath, identify and fix any state management lapses, offer support to victims and their families, and report regularly on the investigation’s progress.
A line of speedboats carrying visitors to Phu Quoc Island gather at An Thoi Port on July 11, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Dinh Van |
Units were also told, within their mandates, to conduct or oversee full inspections of safety conditions for inland waterway and maritime transport both at the accident site and in other locations with similar operating conditions.
The ministry demanded tighter scrutiny of passenger waterway services, especially those linking the mainland to islands, singling out the routes to popular tourist destinations such as Ly Son, Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Cat Ba and Ha Long Bay.
They must also work closely with enforcement agencies to inspect operators’ compliance with inland waterway and maritime safety rules, particularly during severe weather, and quickly tackle any violations or safety gaps uncovered during inspections, among other tasks.
The accident occurred at around 1 p.m., about 200 m off Hon May Rut in the An Thoi waters in southern An Giang province.
Phu Quoc received 5.7 million tourists in the first six months this year, up 30% year-on-year. Among those were 1.32 million foreign tourists, up 50% year-on-year, according to An Giang Province’s Department of Tourism.
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