The boat, with 48 passengers and five crew members on board, got into difficulties during unexpected heavy rain showers and capsized around 2 p.m. local time (9 a.m. Belgian time).

Eleven passengers were rescued. Twenty-seven bodies were recovered, including eight children, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Tourist attraction

Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations, with hundreds of islands rising like pillars from the sea. The bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In 2024, thirty boats sank in the coastal province of Quang Ninh, on Ha Long Bay, when they were hit by Typhoon Yagi.