Quang Ninh (VNA) – The Vinh Xanh 58 tourist boat was salvaged and towed ashore early July 20 for further investigation, after capsizing a day earlier in the northern province of Quang Ninh, leaving dozens dead.
The boat tipped over at 1:45 p.m. on July 19 near Ti Top Island in the Ha Long Bay World Heritage Site due to a sudden thunderstorm, while carrying 48 tourists and five crew members.
A total of 47 people have been recovered, with ten survivors and 37 confirmed dead, including four victims whose identities are still being verified.
Under orders from Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Quang Ninh deployed four large vessels and key personnel to as💃sist with the salvage operation.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha (second, left) instructs the search and rescue operations. (Photo: VNA)
Alongside the salvage efforts, rescue teams worked through the night, expanding the search area to ensure no victims were left behind.
Colonel Nguyen Thuan, deputy police chief of Quang Ninh province, said the search teams remained deployed in 25 units to locate the remaining victims.
Late on July 19, local authorities visited victims undergoing emergency treatment and intensive care at the provincial General Hospital.
The province has initially provided financial support of 25 million VND (955 USD) per bereaved family and 8 million per injured survivor. It has also arranged accommodations and is covering all lodging and meal expenses for victims' families while they remain in the locality.
The Quang Ninh Fatherland Front Committee has also provided 5 million VND per deceased victim and 3 million per injured survivor. In a show of solidarity, several local businesses have contributed an additional 40 million VND for each fatality and 25 million for those injured.
After learning about the incident, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 19 issued an urgent dispatch, asking the Ministry of National Defence, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Security and other relevant ministries, agencies, and local authorities, to mobilise all available personnel and resources operating near the area to carry out search and rescue operations as swiftly and effectively as possible.
Authorities were also requested to provide timely support for the victims’ families and to investigate the cause of the accident thoroughly, ensuring that any violations are strictly dealt with.
The Government leader also ordered a comprehensive review of all maritime safety procedures, with immediate measures to address shortcomings and to guarantee absolute♊ safety for vessels operating in the area./ꦇ.
At around 1:30am on July 20, the tourist boat QN-7105, which capsized in Ha Long Bay on July 19, was lifted to the surface. During the salvage operation, rescue teams discovered three more victims inside the vessel. As of now, a total of 47 people have been involved in the search and rescue operation. Among them, 10 survivors have been rescued and 37 confirmed dead. The identities of four of the deceased are still being verified.
By 8:45 p.m., authorities had recovered 27 bodies from the boat capsize in Ha Long Bay, including eight children, and successfully rescued 11 survivors.
As of 6:00 pm, rescue teams had saved two more individuals from a tourist boat that sank in Ha Long Bay, bringing the total number of people rescued - both passengers and crew member - to 12. By 7:40 pm, the bodies of nine victims had been found. However, the exact number of people aboard at the time of sinking has yet to be confirmed.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed and issued Official Dispatch No. 114, urging urgent search and rescue operations and prompt measures to address the aftermath of the boat capsizing in Quang Ninh.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Although millions of Vietnamese were affected by AO, only over 626,000 individuals, including war veterans and their children suffering from dioxin-related conditions, are currently receiving state benefits.
The team’s haul, including one Champion title, 10 golds, seven silvers, and four bronzes, surpassed expectations. Vietnam, competing since 2019, has secured over 200 AIMO medals, cementing its regional standing.
The guiding principle for revising the national energy master plan is that energy development must align with the country’s socio-economic development strategy. The energy system should be optimised as a whole, targeting sustainable and diverse development to ensure stable and adequate energy supply to meet national goals.
The Vietnam Disability Fashion Show 2025 aimed to honour the diverse beauty of individuals, promote humanistic values, and foster equality and social inclusion.
The Party and the Government pay special attention to accelerating the development of clean and green energy sources to support double-digit socio-economic growth target and ensure national energy security, focusing on developing the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plants.