Vietnamese police detained the captain of a speedboat on Sunday after it capsized off southern Vietnam, resulting in the deaths of 15 Indian tourists. The incident occurred Saturday afternoon less than a mile from shore, shortly after the boat departed Hon May Rut Ngoai island, near Phu Quoc.
The captain, identified as 57-year-old Nguyen Hong Hai, is under investigation for alleged violations of waterway transport safety regulations, according to state media reports. The speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members when it overturned.
Sixteen survivors have been discharged from the hospital and are returning to India, while one remains in critical condition, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi reported Sunday. The bodies of the deceased are being transported to Ho Chi Minh City for official formalities before being flown to India. The Indian Embassy confirmed that 10 of the deceased were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala.
The victims were part of a company trip organized by Lava International, an Indian smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturer, for its employees, distributors, and retail partners. Ashish Kumar, a 48-year-old distributor from Guntur, India, who was on the trip, witnessed the accident from shore as he waited for one of two remaining boats to depart.
Kumar described the boat as being relatively close to shore when it flipped. "We screamed, ‘Help! Help!’" he told The Associated Press. Nearby boats immediately responded, but he stated it was too late for some.
Ha Van Loc, a boat pilot in the vicinity, told state media VN Express that he saw the overturned vessel around 12:40 p.m. local time. He observed people clinging to the hull and others struggling in the water without life jackets, being submerged by waves while signaling for help. Loc encountered difficulties reaching the capsized boat due to rough seas, which also posed a risk of injuring those in the water with his propeller. He managed to throw life buoys and pull four survivors aboard within about 10 minutes.
Within minutes of Loc alerting other boat operators and recording a video, nearly a dozen boats and rescue teams arrived. However, rescue efforts were significantly hampered by rough seas with waves reaching up to 3 meters (10 feet). Jet skis proved more effective in reaching survivors than larger boats, bringing them ashore individually. State media cited passengers who reported that the captain had instructed everyone to wear life jackets before departure, but many had carried them instead. Some passengers were reportedly trapped inside the vessel and had to escape through windows or the bow.
Onshore, initial emergency response was provided by tourists and tour company staff, who performed CPR and administered oxygen. The 17 injured individuals were taken to Phu Quoc Sun Hospital, with emergency medical personnel dispatched to the scene.
Phu Quoc is a popular beach destination known for its white sandy beaches and clear waters. India is a rapidly growing tourism market for Vietnam, with approximately 750,000 Indian tourists visiting in 2025, a nearly 50% increase from the previous year. This growth is attributed to increased direct flights and Vietnam's e-visa policy.