Overview

• The Wonder Sea, carrying 48 passengers and five crew, capsized on July 19 after a sudden storm struck Ha Long Bay.
• State media confirm that 34 people, including eight children, have died and several remain unaccounted for.
• Border guards, naval units and local agencies have deployed more than two dozen vessels and divers to continue search and recovery operations.
• Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has offered condolences to victims’ families and launched an urgent investigation into safety compliance and the incident’s causes.
• The tragedy highlights recurring risks in Vietnamese coastal tourism due to sudden weather shifts and lapses in maritime safety enforcement.