Indian tourists killed as speedboat capsizes near Vietnam holiday island

A speedboat carrying Indian tourists capsized off the coast of Vietnam’s Phu Quoc island on Saturday, leaving at least 15 people dead and raising fresh questions around maritime safety for leisure travellers in Southeast Asia.

According to Vietnamese authorities, the vessel was carrying 32 Indian nationals and four Vietnamese crewmembers when it overturned approximately 400 metres from Hon May Rut Ngoai, a popular island-hopping destination in the An Thoi archipelago. Initial reports indicate the boat encountered heavy winds and rough seas before capsizing. Twenty-one people were rescued after nearby tourist boats responded to the emergency, while search and recovery operations continued as authorities worked to verify the final casualty toll.

Vietnamese state media, including VnExpress, reported that many passengers were trapped inside the overturned vessel, complicating rescue efforts. Local officials said adverse weather was the leading suspected cause of the accident, although a formal investigation has been launched to establish the precise circumstances.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, while the Indian Embassy in Vietnam described the incident as “tragic” and activated emergency hotlines to assist relatives. Embassy officials have also coordinated with Vietnamese authorities to support survivors and facilitate consular assistance.

Last year, six people were injured after a speedboat exploded off the coast of Thailand near ‎Phuket.