Man tells of escape from capsized Ha Long Bay tourist boat
Dang Anh Tuan, 36, was on holiday with 11 university friends, when the Wonder Sea overturned on a sightseeing tour during a sudden thunderstorm.
Only three of his group survived, while the nine others, including a man who was travelling with his wife and three-year-old son, were among at least 38 people killed.
Five other people remain missing from the boat, which was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members, all of whom were Vietnamese, according to state media.
Mr Tuan said a storm quickly covered the sky, bringing high winds and pouring rain, as the boat embarked on a three-hour trip.
He said the passengers asked for the boat to turn back to shore, but the crew reassured them they were almost at their destination and kept moving forward.
"The boat capsized in less than a minute. It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake vigorously, tables and chairs were jostled around and seconds later the boat overturned," he said.
"Water gushed in and I lost all orientation. I tried to breathe. But more water came in.
"I took a deep breath, got rid of my life vest and dove down. I saw a streak of light and followed it to swim out, escaping the boat, and then I climbed on the overturned boat to look for help."
Read more from Sky News:
Mr Tuan survived by clinging on to the capsized boat and its propellers, waiting for another two hours until the rain stopped and rescue workers arrived.
They saved 11 people, including a 14-year-old boy trapped for four hours in the overturned hull, but one survivor died in hospital, according to the VNExpress newspaper.
The newspaper said most of the passengers were tourists from Hanoi, including about 20 children, and the boat turned upside down because of strong winds.
Mr Tuan escaped with minor cuts, but one of his friends suffered multiple injuries to his head while another cut his tendons as he tried to escape the boat through a broken window.
Speaking from her hospital bed, survivor Dang Thuy Linh said her family and friends were still missing.
"There are still my husband, my child(ren), my friend and their family. I hope they will all be rescued soon," she said.
"Don't leave anyone in the boat. The air is running thin and hope for surviving is running out."
A tropical storm is also moving towards the area, with a national weather forecast predicting Storm Wipha will hit Vietnam's northern region next week, including Ha Long Bay's coast.
Ha Long Bay is around 125mi (200km) north east of Hanoi and attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year.
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New York Times
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Further south, Arles dazzles with its Roman amphitheatre—the same city where Van Gogh produced some of his most famous works, including Starry Night Over the Rhône and The Bedroom in Arles . Wildlife lovers? The Rhône spills into the wild Camargue delta, where white horses gallop through salt marshes, flamingos strike poses in pink lagoons, and black bulls roam freely beneath the vast Provençal sky. How To Do It Join CroisiEurope's 6-night Lyon to the Tip of Provence cruise, from $1,749 per person, including all meals, drinks, and excursions. To book, visit Read More: Forbes Is This The World's Most Expensive Cruise? By Lewis Nunn 7. The Ganges The Ganges getty From the icy reaches of the Himalayas to the palm-fringed shores of the Bay of Bengal, the Ganges puts you at the beating heart of India's spiritual soul. Revered as Ganga Mata (Mother Ganges), floating along this sacred river—particularly its Lower reaches near Kolkata—offers a rare window into India's layered past. You'll glide past faded colonial-era towns, crumbling terracotta temples, and pilgrim-packed ghats, where saffron-robed monks chant and families gather to cremate loved ones in hopes of moksha (spiritual liberation). In Kalna, rickshaw rides weave through narrow lanes to its famed 108 Shiva temples, while in Mayapur, the global headquarters of ISKCON (Hare Krishna) hums with chanting devotees and towering temple domes. Further upstream, in Murshidabad , you'll uncover the regal Hazarduari Palace and the historic Katra Mosque—or just sit back on deck and gaze at river dolphins, softshell turtles, and gharial crocodiles gliding silently along this uber-spiritual river. How To Do It Join Uniworld's 12-night India's Golden Triangle & The Sacred Ganges voyage from New Delhi to Kolkata, from $5,879 per person including all meals, unlimited beverages (including fine wines & spirits), daily excursions, airport transfers, and WiFi. To book, visit 8. The Seine The Seine in Paris getty Winding through the romantic heart of northern France, the Seine— from its crystalline source in Burgundy to its mouth at the English Channel —glides past sun-dappled apple orchards, dramatic chalk cliffs, and storybook half-timbered villages. Most Seine cruises begin in Paris, offering front-row access to world-famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral . Meanwhile, downstream, you'll meander through Normandy's rolling countryside with stops at Monet's dreamy gardens in Giverny, the cobbled medieval streets of Rouen, and the haunting D-Day beaches near C aen. You'll also pass Château Gaillard —Richard the Lionheart's craggy hilltop fortress and arrive in Honfleur, a harbor town known for its slate-roofed houses and café-lined quays— beloved by Impressionist painters like Boudin and Monet . How To Do It Join Viking's 7-night Paris & the Heart of Normandy voyage, from $2,799 per person, including all meals, WiFi, wine, beer, and soft drinks (with lunch and dinner) and six guided tours. To book, visit . For UK enquiries and fares, please call 0800 319 66 60. Read More: Forbes The World's Best Luxury Cruise Lines, According To Globe Travel Awards By Lewis Nunn 9. The Amazon The Amazon getty Stretching over 4,000 miles from the majestic Peruvian Andes to the Atlantic Ocean, the Amazon is a snaking lifeline through the world's largest rainforest—a labyrinth of gnarled vines, glittering oxbow lakes, and mirror-like lagoons. Here, pink river dolphins leap through blackwater tributaries, howler monkeys roar from the canopy, and giant water lilies unfurl like floating dinner plates beneath the jungle's cathedral-like trees. River cruises typically launch from Peru or Brazil, where sleek, low-slung river ships glide past floating villages, stilted huts, and wildlife-rich lagoons. Excursions? Think misty skiff rides at dawn, torchlit caiman spotting beneath star-strewn skies, jungle hikes led by indigenous guides, and adrenaline-tinged piranha fishing in secluded, root-wrapped creeks. Or, you might even encounter ribereños —the river's native communities—who share ancient medicinal plant wisdom passed down through generations. How To Do It Join G Adventures' 9-day Amazon Riverboat in Depth round-trip from Lima, from $3,799 per person, including daily excursions, internal flights, and most meals. International flights, drinks, and gratuities are not included. To book, visit 10. The Rhine The Rhine getty Flowing from the glacial peaks of the Swiss Alps to the windswept coastlines of the North Sea, the Rhine threads its way through storied medieval fortresses, vineyard-cloaked slopes, and majestic cathedral cities—carving six countries: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Between Strasbourg and Koblenz, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers one of Europe's most cinematic stretches—where gothic castles perch above vine-streaked cliffs like stone crowns and the river curls beneath the fabled Lorelei Rock , home to age-old legends of treacherous sirens and shipwrecks. Opt for a river cruise here and you'll drift past Bacharach's turreted skyline, Rüdesheim's cobbled alleyways, and sweeping vineyards that birth Germany's most elegant Rieslings. How To Do It APT 8-day highlights of the Rhine and Main voyages start from $2,542—including all meals, an unlimited selection of cocktails, premium spirits, champagne, wine, beer, and soft drinks; experiences, transfers, and gratuities. For more information, visit Read More: Forbes The Ultimate Guide To South Africa Cruises By Lewis Nunn 11. The Chobe Chobe National Park in Botswana getty Along the remote border of Botswana and Namibia, the Chobe is one of Africa's most thrilling waterways—with a front-row seat to nature's grandest spectacles: think elephants bathing at sunset, hippos yawning in the shallows, and sleek crocodiles basking on golden sandbanks. Cruises typically begin near Kasane, gateway to Chobe National Park—home to one of the largest elephant populations on Earth—while on the river, you'll drift past floodplains teeming with buffalo, leaping antelope, and a kaleidoscope of over 450 bird species, from majestic African fish eagles to the mysterious Pel's fishing owl. Excursions? Think game drives, sunset cruises, and visits to gems like Impalila Island —where tribal traditions offer a glimpse into local life. Whether you're sipping a sundowner as elephants gracefully cross the river or spotting rare birds from a skiff at dawn, the Chobe is—simply put—a wildlife safari by water. How To Do It Join AmaWaterways' 9-night Discover Africa voyage, from $12,045 per person, with 3 nights in Cape Town, a 4-night Chobe River wildlife cruise, and 2 nights at Victoria Falls (including luxury lodges, game drives, and river safaris). This fare includes all meals, guided excursions, and internal flights. To book, visit 12. The Elbe The Elbe getty Stretching nearly 700 miles from the Czech Republic's mist-shrouded Krkonoše Mountains to the North Sea, the Elbe is less trafficked than its European siblings—offering a quieter journey through baroque cities, vineyard-cloaked hills, and fairytale fortresses. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve , it is home to white-tailed eagles, beavers, and migrating cranes, with floodplain meadows and wetlands in abundance. Cruising between Prague and Hamburg, you'll pass through the Elbe Sandstone Mountains—known as Saxon Switzerland —where jagged rock spires rise above pine forests and misty gorges. While stops include Dresden , once dubbed the 'Florence of the Elbe', with its rococo palaces and ornate domes, and Wittenberg , where you'll walk in the footsteps of Martin Luther. How To Do It Join VIVA Cruises' 7-night Adventcruise from Berlin to Prague, from $2,145 per person, including all meals, a selection of premium wines and beer, and one 'high tea' experience per trip. To book, head to 13. The Magdalena Magdalena getty Spilling northward for almost 950 miles from the misty Andean highlands to the sun-kissed shores of the Caribbean, the Magdalena is Colombia's ancient artery of trade. Departing from Cartagena or bustling Barranquilla, you'll glide past tangled mangrove forests and banana plantations, pausing in storied towns like Palenque , a UNESCO-recognized 'free town' founded by escaped slaves, and Mompox —where masterful filigree artisans craft intricate gold jewelry by hand. In El Banco, birthplace of jubilant cumbia music, you'll be serenaded by local performers in embroidered costumes, while in Nueva Venecia , you'll drift through a floating village where homes, schools, and churches rise on stilts above the water. The Magdalena is also a haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers alike—so keep watch for scarlet ibises, river dolphins, and the elusive blue-billed curassow amid its thriving wetlands. How To Do It Join AmaWaterways' 7-night Wonders of Colombia River voyage along the Magdalena River, from $3,089 per person, including all meals, wine and beer (with lunch and dinner), a daily cocktail hour, and small-group excursions. To book, visit Read More: Forbes Meet The President Of AmaWaterways By Lewis Nunn 14. The Garonne and Dordogne Dordogne Valley getty In the heart of southwestern France, the Garonne and Dordogne form the majestic Gironde Estuary—dotted with fairytale châteaux aplenty, where UNESCO-listed towns unfold in slow, elegant succession. River cruises typically begin in Bordeaux , a city of neoclassical grandeur, with café-lined boulevards, leafy promenades, and 347 protected buildings, where the opulent Place de la Bourse shimmers and the Cité du Vin offers a deep dive into wine heritage. On the way, you'll glide past Cadillac's medieval streets, Blaye's formidable Vauban citadel, and the vineyard-laced slopes of Pauillac, home to legendary wine estates like Château Lafite Rothschild . Highlights? Think Sauternes for golden dessert wines, Arcachon Bay for oysters, and Saint-Émilion 's limestone catacombs. How To Do It Join Avalon Waterways' 8-day Bonjour Bordeaux: Chateaux Wineries and Charming Villages voyage, from $4209 per person, including all meals, regional wines and beers (at meal times—plus a daily 'happy hour'), and excursions. To book, visit 15. The Danube The Danube getty Flowing 1,770 miles from Germany's Black Forest to the Black Sea, the Danube is Central Europe's cultural spine—threading through ten countries and four historic capitals—Vienna ( Austria ), Bratislava ( Slovakia ), Budapest ( Hungary ), and Belgrade ( Serbia ). River cruises often start in Budapest, where the river splits the city in two— Buda and Pest —offering postcard-perfect views of the iconic Hungarian Parliament , Chain Bridge , and turreted Buda Castle . In Austria, however, the river glides through the Wachau Valley —a utopia of terraced vineyards, romantic hilltop castles, and blooming apricot orchards, where you can sip crisp Grüner Veltliner in candlelit cellars. In Germany, medieval towns like Regensburg and Passau brim with Gothic spires, storybook townhouses, and charming cobbled squares, while the grand Melk Abbey dazzles with its golden frescoes. Further east, you'll cut through the mighty Iron Gates Gorge , where towering limestone cliffs rise above swirling sapphire waters—one of the great wonders of the world. How To Do It Join Amadeus River Cruises' 7-night Classical Danube Cruise from Budapest to Passau, from $2,454 per person, including all meals, wine and beer (with lunch and dinner). To book, visit Read More: Forbes The Best Danube River Cruises For 2025, According To Experts By Lewis Nunn Forbes The World's Best River Cruise Lines, According To Globe Travel Awards By Lewis Nunn Forbes Why A Douro River Cruise Is The Best Way To See Portugal By Lewis Nunn Forbes Is This The World's Most Expensive Cruise? By Lewis Nunn Forbes The World's Best Luxury Cruise Lines, According To Globe Travel Awards By Lewis Nunn Forbes The Ultimate Guide To South Africa Cruises By Lewis Nunn Forbes Meet The President Of AmaWaterways By Lewis Nunn
