Tour Guide and Tourists Severely Injured in Boat Collision on Tien River, Vietnam

On April 19, 2024, a collision occurred between a boat carrying 42 foreign tourists and a passenger ferry on the Tien River in Tien Giang province, southern Vietnam. The tourist boat, operated by Hang Chau Tourist Express Boat, was traveling from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Chau Doc City in An Giang province when the ferry rammed into the side of the boat around 5:25 pm, causing a large part of the vessel to break off.

The tour guide, a 36-year-old Vietnamese man named Ab Dol Ro Zak, suffered severe injuries in the collision, including a severed right arm and broken legs. Two foreign tourists, a 57-year-old German named Koehler Dietmar Heinz and a 67-year-old Frenchman named Kormann Pascale Aline, also had their left legs broken. All three were rushed to Tân Châu Hospital for emergency treatment.

According to Que Chi, a passenger on the ferry (plate number: 99K AG-21477) operated by Võ Văn Nhân, the tourist boat had been traveling at a high speed before the collision. "The captain had tried to slow down but was too late," Chi said. Locals helped the captain, Phan Thành Được, remove the passengers from the damaged tourist boat (AG-23338), fearing it could sink.

By Friday night, the two foreign tourists were reported to be in stable condition, while the tour guide's condition was more serious and he was transferred to a larger hospital. The tourist boat had been licensed for operation for over 10 years and was running its registered route from the border area towards Tân Châu at the time of the incident.

Police have towed the damaged boats to the shore as they investigate the cause of the collision. The ferry was travelling from Thường Phước 1 Commune in Đồng Tháp Province to Vĩnh Xương Commune in Tân Châu Town, An Giang Province when it collided with the tourist boat in Vĩnh Xương Commune. Authorities are still investigating the factors that led to the severe waterway accident that left three people, including the tour guide and two European tourists, with significant injuries requiring emergency medical treatment.

Key Takeaways

• Boat collision between tourist boat and ferry in Vietnam, 3 injured
• Tourist boat traveling at high speed before collision, captain tried to slow down
• 2 foreign tourists, 1 tour guide suffered broken legs and severed arm
• Boats towed to shore, authorities investigating cause of accident
• Incident raises concerns about waterway safety in Mekong Delta region