India Activates Helplines After Vietnam Tourist Boat Tragedy: Details Here

At least 15 people lost their lives after a tourist speedboat carrying Indian travellers capsized off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, prompting the Indian Embassy to activate emergency helplines for families seeking information.

According to Vietnamese authorities, the vessel, operated by Ocean Pear Island Company, was transporting tourists from Hon May Rut to An Thoi Port when it overturned at around 1 pm local time. The accident occurred nearly 400 metres from Hon May Rut Ngoai, along a route located about 25 kilometres from Phu Quoc Airport.

Officials said the boat had 32 Indian tourists and four crew members on board at the time of the incident.

The Indian Embassy in Vietnam said search and rescue operations were continuing and that

local authorities were still working to establish the exact details of the tragedy. In a post on social media, the embassy announced that dedicated control rooms had been set up to assist affected families.

In a tragic incident, a boat carrying several Indian tourists has capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam a few hours ago.

Exact details of the incident are being ascertained as search and rescue operations by local authorities are ongoing.

In order to provide information…

— India in Vietnam (@AmbHanoi) July 11, 2026

The Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City can be contacted on [phone], [phone], and [phone]. A separate control room has also been established at the Indian Embassy in Hanoi, which can be reached on [phone].

According to Vietnamese news outlet VnExpress, nearby tourist boats rushed to the scene after spotting the overturned vessel, helping rescue several passengers from the water. One rescue boat operator said he reached the site within minutes but claimed that some passengers trapped inside the boat could not be pulled out in time.

The exact cause of the capsizing is yet to be determined, and rescue teams continued operations at the site late into the day.

The accident comes at a time when Phu Quoc has witnessed a sharp increase in tourist arrivals. Data from the provincial Department of Tourism showed the island welcomed 5.7 million visitors in the first half of 2026, a 30 per cent rise compared to the same period last year. Foreign tourist arrivals rose by 50 per cent to 1.32 million during the same period.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident, while rescue efforts remain underway.