At least 34 people have died after a tourist boat capsized in Vietnam, according to state media reports.

A tragedy has killed at least 34 people in Vietnam. The Wonder Sea was reportedly carrying 53 people, including five crew members, when it capsized in strong winds in Ha Long Bay on Saturday.

Rescue teams found 11 survivors and recovered 34 bodies, eight of whom were children, Vietnam's state news agency reported, citing local authorities.

The People's Army newspaper, citing local border guards, said authorities had yet to confirm details about the tourists, including their nationality, as the rescue operation continued.

Most of the passengers were tourists, including about 20 children, from the country's capital, Hanoi, the newspaper said. The incident comes shortly after Typhoon Wipha made landfall in the South China Sea, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and lightning to the region.

The storm is the third typhoon to hit the South China Sea this year and is expected to make landfall on the northern coast of Vietnam early next week.