A number of Britons are feared drowned after a tour boat sank in Vietnam’s beautiful Ha Long Bay.
The tour boat, which was carrying 27 people, went down at 5am local time with at least 11 tourists and one guide drowning. Fifteen people, including nine foreign tourists and six crew were pulled from the water alive.
Tourists from the UK, the US, France, Russia, Denmark and Sweden are all thought to have been on board, according to reports in Vietnam.
The reason for yesterday’s sinking is yet to be confirmed with the weather not thought to be the cause. Ha Long Bay is generally calm at this time of the year.
Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most impressive tourist attractions with thousands visiting the area each year.
Many tourists go on package trips to the bay, touring the amazing scenery, stopping over at Cát Bà island and then staying overnight on boats.
A Foreign Office told the Telegraph said: “We understand there has been a boat accident off the coast of Ha Long Bay and that foreigners were on board.
“We are in touch with the local authorities and hospitals to establish whether any British citizens are involved.
“A consular team is preparing to deploy to the site.”
The World Heritage Site, which is around three hours east of the nation’s capital Hanoi, is made up of almost 2,000 islands.
It has been featured on TV a number of times with Top Gear using it as a finishing destination for one of the trio’s famous challenges.
Picture Credit: Huw Bowen
What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do –
especially in other people’s minds. When you’re traveling, you are what
you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold
against you. No yesterdays on the road.