Speedboat tours in Vietnam's Phu Quoc suspended after accident kills 15 Indian tourists

Local operators and authorities said services will resume only when weather conditions improve to ensure visitor safety.

A representative of a speedboat company in An Thoi Ward, Phu Quoc Special Zone, said local tourism operators had proposed suspending island-hopping tours by speedboat following the deadly accident.

Local authorities agreed to halt the tours until sea conditions become calmer.

Nguyen Minh Tam, director of Tam Dang Khoa Speedboat Company, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper on Sunday that his company had canceled more than 20 speedboat tours for foreign visitors to Phu Quoc.

Customers who had booked the tours in advance will receive full refunds.

Tam said the company has also reminded all employees to strictly follow safety procedures, ensure passengers are provided with life jackets, and never carry more passengers than the permitted capacity.

He explained that the southern islands of the An Thoi Archipelago are separated by narrow channels, creating an attractive island-hopping route but also posing risks during rough weather.

Strong waves and complex currents often develop in the gaps between the islands, requiring speedboats to slow down significantly when passing through these areas.

The islands are about seven kilometers from An Thoi Port, with the journey taking around 15 to 20 minutes by speedboat under normal conditions.

Tam said his company also participated in rescue operations following Saturday’s accident. High waves and strong winds made rescue efforts difficult and complicated.

The An Giang Department of Agriculture and Environment said the waters around Phu Quoc have experienced southwest monsoon winds of level 2 to 4 over the past few days, with gusts reaching level 6.

The department is continuously monitoring weather conditions and updating forecasts.

Tran Minh Khoa, chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Quoc Special Zone, said the surviving Indian tourists are receiving medical care at Sun Serenia Hospital Phu Quoc.

The provincial government provided financial assistance of US$2,000 to the family of each deceased victim and $500 to each surviving victim.

Khoa said one Indian tourist, who has underlying health conditions, is receiving treatment with support from doctors at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

He added that local authorities have called for stricter inspections of tourist boats operating around the island. Only vessels that fully meet safety requirements will be allowed to operate, while those failing to comply will be prohibited from providing services.

The speedboat, bearing registration number AG-26751, was carrying 32 Indian tourists, three crew members, and one Vietnamese tour guide from May Rut Ngoai Islet to An Thoi International Port when it overturned about 400 meters from shore at around 1:00 pm after encountering strong winds, authorities said.

By 3:30 pm, rescue teams had recovered 36 people, including 21 survivors and 15 fatalities, all Indian nationals.

Five bodies are being preserved at Kien Giang General Hospital and 10 others have been transferred to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City while authorities completed identification procedures, according to An Giang provincial authorities.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on Saturday ordered an urgent investigation into the accident.