By TRH World Desk
Vessel carrying 32 Indian tourists and crew overturned near Hon May Rut Ngoai island; 21 rescued as Indian Embassy sets up control rooms in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
New Delhi, July 11, 2026 — A speedboat carrying Indian tourists capsized off Vietnam’s largest island, Phu Quoc, on Saturday, killing 15 people, according to Vietnam-based outlet VnExpress.
The vessel, operated by Ocean Pear Island Company, was transporting tourists from Hon May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port — around 25 kilometers from Phu Quoc Airport — when it capsized about 400 meters off Hon May Rut Ngoai at approximately 1 p.m. local time, throwing everyone on board into the sea, according to initial information from authorities in the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, CNN reported.
The boat was carrying 32 Indian tourists along with crew members. Nearby tourist boats rushed to help after spotting the capsized vessel. According to VnExpress, one boat owner involved in the rescue said his vessel reached the scene within about five minutes, but the operation was hampered because many tourists were trapped inside the overturned boat.
A representative of Ocean Pear Island Company told VnExpress that the speedboat was taking tourists on an island-hopping trip, and the captain, who is in his 50s, had many years of experience operating passenger boats.
Twenty-one people were rescued and taken to hospitals for treatment. The Indian Embassy in Hanoi has set up control rooms in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to assist affected families and coordinate with local Vietnamese authorities as identification efforts continue.
May Rut Islet, known for its clear waters, white sand beaches, and coral reefs, is a popular snorkeling and diving destination reached by speedboat from An Thoi in 20 to 40 minutes. Phu Quoc received 5.7 million tourists in the first six months of this year, up 30% year-on-year, including 1.32 million foreign visitors, an increase of 50%, per provincial tourism data cited by VnExpress.
The exact cause of the capsizing is still under investigation by local authorities.
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