Annual trip sponsored by mobile firm turned tragic in Vietnam

In a tragic incident, a boat carrying several Indian tourists has capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam a few hours ago.

Exact details of the incident are being ascertained as search and rescue operations by local authorities are ongoing.

In order to provide information…

— India in Vietnam (@AmbHanoi) July 11, 2026

Most of the dead are from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, and several people on the boat were employees and distributors of Lava Mobiles, a company representative told The Indian Express. They were there as part of an annual meeting.

According to officials, their return flight was on Sunday morning, and the boat ride was among the last leisure activities they had planned. The group numbered around 100 and took three boats, including the one that capsized.

“We are in constant touch with the Embassy of India in Vietnam and the local authorities, and are closely monitoring the situation,” a spokesperson for Lava Mobiles, which manufactures smartphones, tablets, laptops, computer hardware, and other consumer electronics, said.

Also on the boat were a couple from Kerala, A C Thomas, 57, and his wife Loveny Thomas, 56, from Kollam district. Thomas was the managing director of Kottarakkara-based business firm Victory Group, which deals in pharmaceutical and surgical distribution, as well as the South Kerala distributor for Lava Mobiles, which had sponsored the trip.

#WATCH | A tourist boat carrying several Indian nationals capsized near Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam.

Video Source: Voice of Vietnam (VOV) https://t.co/lF8oA6zwci pic.twitter.com/Ko9GUUuUKY

— ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2026

A family source said they had left for Vietnam on Tuesday. They are survived by son A T Cheriyan and daughter Aswathi.

The chief minister’s office said the non-resident Keralites affairs department or NORKA has been entrusted to coordinate with the Vietnam Embassy. The chief minister’s office is also in touch with the External Affairs Ministry.

Visuals from the site of the incident showed a boat that had gone belly up as rescuers looked for survivors in choppy waters, as well as bodies lined up on the shore.

Citing initial information from authorities in the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, VN Express International said nearby tourist boats rushed to assist before border guards, the navy, the coast guard and other forces joined the search-and-rescue operation. Twenty-one people survived the accident, it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who concluded a three-nation visit on Saturday afternoon, said, “Extremely saddened to learn about the tragic news of a boat accident involving Indian nationals near Phu Quoc, Vietnam.”

He said the Indian Embassy and Consulate are providing all possible assistance.

Phu Quoc is one of Vietnam’s most popular beach destinations, drawing millions of domestic and foreign tourists each year. In fact, Indian tourist arrivals in Vietnam have surged, with over 3.24 lakh visitors recorded in the first four months of 2026. This builds on a record-breaking year in 2025, when India became Vietnam’s sixth-largest source market, with nearly 7.46 lakh visitors, up from 5 lakh in 2024.

Direct flights between seven Indian cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad) and three Vietnamese cities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang) help facilitate bilateral tourism.

Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said control rooms have been established at the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City and at the Embassy in Hanoi to provide information and assistance.

VnExpress reported that sea conditions were rough, with large waves in the area. The cause of the accident wasn’t immediately clear, and an investigation was underway.