Fatal boat accident in Ha Long Bay: Death count reaches 35, four individuals still unaccounted for
In the aftermath of the tragic boat capsizing incident in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, back in July 2021, the extensive search for missing individuals has finally come to a close. As of late July 2025, there are no people still missing from the incident that claimed the lives of 39 individuals out of the 49 onboard, with 10 survivors.
The search efforts, which involved over 1,000 personnel, more than 100 vessels, and boats, were expanded by approximately 9km and divided into several units. The province's authorities, showing compassion and support, provided financial assistance and transport for the families to bring their loved ones back to their hometowns.
The boat, a steel-hulled vessel built in 2015 and owned by Doan Van Trinh in Ha An Ward, Quang Ninh Province, departed at 12.55pm on July 19 for a sightseeing route. However, by 1.30pm, the boat encountered sudden stormy weather and lost GPS signal at 2.05pm, leading to the unfortunate incident.
The boat, registered as Vinh Xanh 58 (QN 48-7105), was salvaged and towed ashore by 2am on July 20. The identities of the four missing victims were confirmed: Hoang Van Thai (born 1985), Hoang Viet Hung (born 1979), Hoang Thi Quyen (born 1975), and Nguyen Duy Khai Phong (born 2019).
By Sunday morning, authorities had completed the necessary procedures and handed over the bodies of 30 deceased victims to their families for transport home for burial. As a precautionary measure, all tourist boats operating in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province, as well as passenger transport vessels on island routes and between islands, were temporarily ceased from receiving port departure permits from July 20.
The province also offered support to the victims' families, covering all accommodation and meal costs during their stay in Quang Ninh. Moreover, 22 hotels in Ha Long offered free rooms and meals to relatives of the victims who had travelled to the province to identify and search for their loved ones.
In response to the incident, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha called for all-out efforts to find all victims before the approaching Typhoon Wipha affected Vietnam's coastal areas. Search and rescue efforts are still underway, with flycams deployed to assist.
This concludes the search and rescue operation for the tragic boat capsizing incident in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. Our thoughts remain with the families affected by this unfortunate event.
- Despite the closure of the search for missing individuals, ongoing efforts continue due to the approaching Typhoon Wipha, with flycams being deployed to assist.
- The boat accident in Ha Long Bay, a steel-hulled vessel built in 2015, was temporarily halted all tourist boats and passenger transport vessels on island routes and between islands from receiving port departure permits as a precautionary measure.
- The extensive search for the tragic boat capsizing victims involved over 1,000 personnel, more than 100 vessels, and boats, expanding the efforts by approximately 9km and dividing them into several units.
- In response to the boat accident, the provincial authorities offered support to the victims' families, covering all accommodation and meal costs during their stay in Quang Ninh, as well as financial assistance and transport for families to bring their loved ones back to their hometowns.
- The tragic boat capsizing incident in Ha Long Bay, which occurred back in 2021, reinforces the importance of technology in transportation, such as weather forecasting and GPS tracking, to ensure safety and prevent similar incidents in the future, especially in the context of sports, travel, and general news.
