Speedboat carrying Indian tourists capsizes off Phu Quoc, 15 dead; Lava Mobile group among victims
The speedboat overturned 400 metres from Phu Quoc's coast on Saturday, leaving 21 survivors. Many on board were employees and distributors of Indian phone maker Lava Mobile attending an annual meeting.
What happened
A speedboat carrying 36 people overturned about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai islet near Phu Quoc island in southern Vietnam on Saturday, July 11. The vessel was making its way from Hon May Rut Island to An Thoi Port when it capsized around 1 p.m. local time, VnExpress reported, citing authorities. On board were 32 Indian tourists, three crew members and one attendant. The boat, registered as AG 26751, belonged to Minh Huy Phu Quoc Trading & Tourism Company Limited. All 36 occupants went into the sea, with many initially trapped inside the overturned hull. Rough conditions, including strong winds and high waves, hindered rescue attempts.
Rescue and casualties
Multiple tourist boats and coast guard vessels joined the effort, while border guard units deployed two boats and 35 personnel. Video from the scene showed rescuers throwing life buoys to people in the water and using jet skis to bring survivors ashore. Twenty-one people were rescued alive, and authorities later confirmed 15 dead, comprising 13 men and two women, all Indian nationals. Two of the injured were listed in critical condition. All the deceased were recovered.
- Fatalities
- 15
- Survivors
- 21
Corporate group on board
Many of the Indian tourists were employees and distributors of the mobile phone maker Lava Mobile from the state of Andhra Pradesh, attending an annual company meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. The Indian embassy subsequently released the full list of 32 Indian nationals who had been on the speedboat.
Reactions from India
The embassy set up emergency response centres at the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and at the Embassy in Hanoi to provide information and assistance to affected families. It added that exact details were still being gathered while local search and rescue operations continued. Prime Minister Modi expressed deep sorrow and stated that embassy personnel were at the scene.In a tragic incident, a boat carrying several Indian tourists capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam a few hours ago.
What caused the capsize
Preliminary assessments cited by VnExpress pointed to unusual strong winds and high waves as the probable cause. Some reports, including the Tamil daily Thanthi TV, also mentioned a sudden technical fault on the speedboat. Local official Nguyen Tien Hai, secretary of the Kien Giang provincial Party Committee, said authorities were still confirming survivor numbers and that the initial theory was that strong winds and large waves overturned the boat. The tour operator and the vessel held all necessary licences and met passenger transport regulations, Vietnamese officials told VnExpress.
Tourism context
Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, is the country’s leading beach destination, drawing millions of domestic and international visitors each year. Speedboat excursions to surrounding islets such as Hon May Rut, known for clear waters and coral reefs, are a staple activity. The trip from Phu Quoc to the islet normally takes 20 to 40 minutes. Boat accidents are not rare in Vietnam; in 2025, an excursion boat sank in the country’s northeast during storms, killing at least 38 people.
