The bodies of the 15 Indian tourists who died in a speedboat accident off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island are being repatriated to India on Monday, the Indian embassy in Vietnam said.In a post on X, the embassy said the victims’ remains would be flown from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai aboard Vietnam Airlines flight VN979. The flight was scheduled to leave Ho Chi Minh City at 6.00pm local time and arrive at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International airport at 9.35pm IST.“The mortal remains of the 15 Indian nationals who tragically lost their lives in the 11 July boat accident will be repatriated from Ho Chi Minh City to India today via Vietnam Airlines flight VN979,” the embassy said.It added that the governments of the victims’ home states had been informed and asked to coordinate with the bereaved families to arrange onward transportation of the bodies to their final destinations.The accident happened on Friday when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members overturned shortly after departing Hon May Rut Ngoai island, about 400m from the shore near Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island.Local media reports said that nearby tourist boats, along with Vietnam’s navy, coast guard and border guard personnel, joined the rescue operation after local boat operators raised the alarm. Jet skis were also used to ferry survivors to shore as rough seas reportedly made it difficult for larger vessels to manoeuvre. According to Vietnamese state media, the boat’s captain, 57-year-old Nguyen Hong Hai, is under investigation for allegedly violating inland waterway transport safety regulations.According to VN Express International, the operator of the speedboat was detained on Sunday. Representative. A tourist speedboat is moored at An Thoi Port on 12 July 2026 in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam. - On 11 July 2026, a tourist speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members, including a tour guide, capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai off Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam, killing 15 Indian tourists and rescuing 21 others (Getty)Fifteen Indian tourists were killed in the accident, while 17 others were rescued. Two of those who died were women. The Indian Embassy said 16 survivors have since been discharged from hospital and are returning to India. One survivor remains in critical condition and was receiving treatment at a hospital in Phu Quoc. On Monday, the Indian embassy said the Indian national “successfully underwent a medical procedure yesterday evening” and that he had been “admitted in a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City today”. The embassy said: “His family members have also arrived in Ho Chi Minh City.” Meanwhile, eyewitnesses said some passengers became trapped inside the overturned vessel before nearby tourist boats and Vietnamese rescue teams launched a search-and-rescue operation.A report in VN Express International quoted Vietnamese rescuers as saying that the accident occurred during thunderstorms and rough seas caused by the southwest monsoon, with waves reaching two to three metres high.“They were being dragged under by the waves but kept waving for help,” one of the rescuers, Ha Van Loc Loc, 44, captain of a nearby tour boat, was quoted as saying. Mr Loc was also involved in the rescue operation. The tourists had set out on an island-hopping excursion from An Thoi Port, with stops planned at several islands around Phu Quoc before the speedboat capsized about 400m off Hon May Rut Ngoai island. The outlet said several survivors later told investigators that passengers had been instructed to wear life jackets before departure, but many were carrying them instead of wearing them when the boat overturned. Among those who died were 10 people from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala. The governments of all three states have issued helpline numbers to support the affected families.The tourists were part of a company trip organised by a smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturer headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. According to Associated Press, the company said the group included employees, distributors and retail partners. The group had reportedly arrived in Phu Quoc in batches from 9 July and was staying at the Radisson Blu Resort on the island. Hon May Rut Ngoai lies about 10km south of Phu Quoc, one of Vietnam’s most popular beach destinations, known for its white sandy beaches and clear waters that attract millions of domestic and international visitors every year. Authorities said the tour operator would provide $1,000 to the family of each victim and $500 to each injured survivor, while local authorities would cover medical expenses.Vietnamese prime minister Le Minh Hung has ordered an immediate investigation into the accident. Earlier, external affairs minister S Jaishankar also expressed his condolences to the families of 15 deceased. “Deeply distressed by the unfortunate boat accident involving Indian nationals near Phu Quoc, Vietnam,” he wrote on X.“Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the swift recovery of those injured,” he added.