Vietnamese Police Detain Captain After Speedboat Tragedy
HANOI, Vietnam — On Sunday, Vietnamese authorities took into custody the captain of a speedboat that capsized off the southern coast, resulting in the loss of 15 Indian tourists’ lives.
The speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members when it overturned shortly after departing from Hon May Rut Ngoai island, located near Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island. The incident occurred less than half a kilometer from shore on Saturday afternoon.
The captain, identified as Nguyen Hong Hai, 57, is under investigation for possible breaches of water transport safety rules, according to state media.
As of Sunday, 16 survivors have been released from the hospital and are on their way back to India, as communicated by the Indian Embassy in Hanoi. However, one individual remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
Authorities are working to transport the bodies of the deceased to Ho Chi Minh City for official procedures before returning them to India.
Tragic Moments After Departure
The victims were on an official trip organized by Lava International, an Indian smartphone manufacturer, for employees and business partners. Ashish Kumar, a distributor from Guntur, witnessed the tragedy unfold from the shore. He noted that the group had divided into three when the speedboat capsized.
Kumar recalled, “We shouted, ‘Help! Help!’” as nearby vessels rushed to the scene, but it was too late for many.
Challenges in Rescue Operations
Ha Van Loc, who was piloting another boat nearby, saw the overturned vessel around 12:40 p.m. He reported seeing several people clinging to the boat while others struggled in the water without life jackets. “They were waving for help but were quickly submerged by the waves,” Loc said.
Rough seas, with waves up to 10 feet high, made it difficult for rescuers to approach the capsized boat. With the help of nearby boats, Loc managed to throw lifebuoys and rescued four individuals within minutes. Other rescue teams arrived swiftly, but the conditions posed serious challenges.
Despite the captain’s advice to wear life jackets, many passengers had them in hand rather than on. Some were trapped inside the vessel when it capsized and had to escape through windows.
Witnesses reported that there were no emergency medical services available immediately on shore, leading tourists and staff to perform CPR on the victims until medical personnel could arrive. The injured were taken to Phu Quoc Sun Hospital for treatment.
According to the Indian Embassy, ten of the deceased were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala.
Vietnam’s Growing Popularity Among Indian Tourists
Hon May Rut island is situated approximately 10 kilometers south of Phu Quoc, a favored destination for tourists due to its beautiful beaches and clear waters. Vietnam has become increasingly popular with Indian travelers, welcoming approximately 750,000 visitors from India in 2025—an increase of nearly 50% from the previous year.
Authorities attribute this growth to more direct flight options between major cities in India and Vietnam, alongside a liberal e-visa policy in Vietnam.
