Hanoi, 20 July 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Three more bodies have been found after a tourist boat capsized in northern Vietnam's famous Ha Long Bay, raising the death toll to at least 38, authorities said on Sunday.

The bodies of three crew members, trapped inside the cabin, had been found, the Department of National Defence Search and Rescue told dpa. Among the confirmed dead are eight children.

The boat, carrying 48 tourists and five crew members, capsized amid strong winds on Saturday afternoon while on a tour of Ha Long Bay.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged authorities to prioritize rescue operations.

Authorities mobilized 323 personnel for the rescue operation, including border guards, the navy, police and port authorities.

Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spans over 1,500 square kilometres and is dotted with nearly 2,000 islands and islets. It is one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors each year.

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