### Tragedy Strikes Vietnam as Tourist Boat Capsizes, Death Toll Rises to 34

**Emergency rescue operations recover 10 survivors from the waters as officials vow to support ongoing search efforts.**

A devastating boating accident occurred on Saturday in Vietnam's renowned Ha Long Bay, claiming the lives of at least 34 individuals, with state-run media confirming that among the deceased are at least eight children. The tragic incident took place when the boat, carrying 48 tourists and five crew members, overturned due to a sudden storm characterized by intense winds and extremely high waves.

Rescue operations, which involved local naval commandos and took place into the night, successfully rescued approximately 10 individuals from the turbulent waters. These included a young boy who had been submerged for several hours. Local tourism officials described this event as "the worst accident" seen in Ha Long Bay in the past quarter-century.

Bui Cong Hoan, deputy chairman of the Ha Long Tourist Boat Association, expressed his sorrow over the incident, noting that all passengers and crew were Vietnamese nationals. Images from the scene depict the overturned vessel, with only its hull barely visible above the water's surface.

Survivors recounted harrowing tales, including that of one family where only the mother managed to survive an otherwise catastrophic event. Pham Minh Chinh, Vietnam's Prime Minister, has ordered civil defense forces and relevant ministries to enhance support for the ongoing search and rescue efforts.

The ill-fated boat was returning from a tour of the picturesque Dau Go and nearby caves in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay, which is frequented by hundreds of tour boats daily.

This tragic incident has brought back memories of past maritime disasters in Vietnam, including a 2022 speedboat capsizing death that resulted in 17 fatalities and the tragic sinking of a ferry in 2009 that killed 40.