A catastrophic maritime accident off the coast of the Phu Quoc special economic zone has resulted in the tragic loss of 15 foreign tourists, sending shockwaves through the international travel community and prompting a massive, multi-agency emergency response. On the afternoon of July 11, at approximately 1:00 p.m., a tourist canoe named Ocean Pearl Island was violently capsized by large waves and fierce winds while navigating the turbulent waters of An Thoi.
The vessel was returning from Hon May Rut Ngoai, a popular offshore destination, and heading toward the An Thoi international port when the disaster struck. Out of the 36 individuals on board—a group comprising 32 Indian tourists, three crew members, and one Vietnamese tour guide—the devastating incident claimed the lives of 15 Indian nationals, specifically 13 men and two women. Search and rescue forces were immediately mobilized, successfully pulling the remaining 21 survivors from the water and rushing them to local medical facilities, where their health conditions have since stabilized.
In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, local authorities and law enforcement agencies launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the fatal voyage and hold any responsible parties accountable. Initial verifications have identified the vessel's operator as Minh Huy PQ Tourism Company Limited, directed by 56-year-old Diep Nguyen Quoc, a resident of the Hon Thom neighborhood in Phu Quoc, An Giang province.
The Phu Quoc special economic zone police are currently conducting rigorous inquiries into the company's operational protocols and the specific decisions made leading up to the departure amidst heavily deteriorating weather conditions. The An Giang Provincial People's Committee has firmly mandated a swift, objective, and highly accurate investigation to clarify the causes of the accident, stressing that any individuals or organizations found in violation of maritime safety regulations will face strict legal consequences.
Recognizing the profound diplomatic and humanitarian implications of this disaster, Vietnamese officials have rapidly coordinated a high-level response to support the victims' grieving families and facilitate international cooperation. On the morning of July 12, leaders of the An Giang Provincial People's Committee convened an urgent meeting alongside Le Thi Thu Hang, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, to meticulously oversee the ongoing recovery and repatriation efforts. Following this critical briefing, the bodies of the 15 deceased victims were transported to the mainland and subsequently transferred to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.
There, local authorities are working intimately with diplomatic representatives to preserve the remains and expedite the complex legal and logistical procedures required to return them to India. Concurrently, the provincial leadership has explicitly tasked the Department of Finance and the Department of Tourism with allocating appropriate, flexible funding to provide maximum material and psychological support to both the survivors and the victims' relatives. Arrangements are actively being managed to warmly welcome the families of the deceased upon their arrival in Vietnam, ensuring they are provided with dedicated translators, comfortable accommodations, and reliable transportation during this incredibly difficult period.
Through these comprehensive and deeply empathetic efforts, local authorities are striving to handle the crisis with the utmost humanity and responsibility, aiming to maintain the region's hard-earned reputation as a safe, friendly, and highly reputable destination despite the heartbreaking circumstances.
Tyler A. Nguyen
Community Insights