Fifteen Indian tourists have died after a speedboat capsized near Phu Quoc Island in southern Vietnam on the afternoon of 11 July 2026. Twenty-one others were rescued and taken to hospital. All 36 people on board have been brought ashore, Vietnamese authorities confirmed.
The boat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members when it overturned on its return to An Thoi Port from a tour near the island. The An Thoi Border Guard Station, the Vietnamese Navy, Coast Guard Region 4 and local vessels launched an immediate rescue operation, deploying life rafts and jet skis. The cause of the accident is under investigation. Rough sea conditions and possible mechanical failure are suspected.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in New Zealand concluding his three-nation Indo-Pacific tour, posted condolences on X within hours of the news breaking.
Who was on board
The Indian Embassy in Vietnam released the full list of 32 Indian tourists who were on the boat, posted on X via ANI on 11 July 2026.
Ten of the deceased are from Tamil Nadu. Two are from Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Others are from Telangana. The full state breakdown of all 15 deceased has not been officially confirmed for every victim at the time of publication.
Three people from Andhra Pradesh have been hospitalised. Andhra Pradesh Minister for NRI Empowerment and Relations Kondapalli Srinivas said the state government was monitoring the situation closely from Delhi. “We are collecting data on how many people from Andhra Pradesh died in the boat accident in Vietnam. Minister Nara Lokesh and the Andhra Pradesh government are closely monitoring the developments,” he said.
The tour was organised by Vietnam-based Threeland Travel through local coordinating vendor Sai Vietnam. Reports from state officials suggest the group may have been on a corporate tour associated with Indian mobile phone company Lava Mobile. This has not been officially confirmed by Lava Mobile or the tour organisers.
NRI Affairs is not publishing individual names of the deceased at this stage, as families are still being formally notified.
What is Phu Quoc Island?
What is Phu Quoc Island?
Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island, located in the Gulf of Thailand off the southern coast. It is one of Southeast Asia’s most popular beach destinations, known for its white sand beaches, coral reefs and water sports. The island receives hundreds of thousands of international tourists annually. An Thoi, at the island’s southern tip, is the main port and a hub for boat tours to nearby islands and reefs. The waters around An Thoi can be subject to rapid weather changes, particularly during the monsoon season from May to October.
The Indian Embassy’s response
The Indian Embassy in Vietnam activated emergency response mechanisms immediately after the accident was reported. Dedicated control rooms have been established at the embassy in Hanoi and at the consulate in Ho Chi Minh City to assist affected families, coordinate with Vietnamese authorities and help with identification and repatriation.
The embassy said both helplines remain operational to respond to queries, coordinate with local authorities and provide assistance to affected families as rescue and identification efforts continue.
Indian Embassy emergency helplines:
Ho Chi Minh City Consulate: confirm the current number at the official Indian Embassy Vietnam website or the consulate in Ho Chi Minh City before calling, as lines are updated in real time.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed condolences and said the state government was in contact with the central government and the Indian Embassy in Vietnam to bring home the bodies of the deceased from Tamil Nadu as quickly as possible.
What the visuals showed
Videos circulating on social media and published by Vietnam News Agency showed rough sea conditions at the time of the accident, with significant wave action visible around the boat’s last known position. The footage showed Vietnamese rescue personnel operating jet skis and life rafts in choppy water.
What happens next
Vietnamese authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the capsizing. Both rough sea conditions and possible mechanical failure are under examination.
The Indian Embassy has confirmed it is working with Vietnamese authorities on the identification and repatriation of the deceased. The process of formally notifying all families is ongoing. State governments in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have said they are coordinating with the central government and the Indian Embassy.
Some state-level sources have indicated the figure may rise as identification of all passengers is completed. NRI Affairs will update this report as official confirmation of the final toll and victim details is released.
