Two tourists have died and another left injured when a boat overturned in Nha Trang Bay.

The scene of the accident

Vice head of the Nha Trang Bay Management Board, Dinh Vinh Tien confirmed on Wednesday evening that the accident occurred at 4 pm near Tri Nguyen Island.

"A group of 23 Chinese tourists were touring the bay by a boat when it suddenly overturned," Tien said. "Some tourist boats operating near the site rushed in to help rescue the passengers and local rescue forces also arrived soon but two drowned."

According to reports from local authorities, the victims were identified as a 30-year-old female Chinese tourist, Liu Yuling and a 25-year-old female Vietnamese tourist guide, Ngo Thi Huong. Another Chinese tourist, Liu Zhirui, 4, was injured and being treated at Khanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital.

Director of Khanh Hoa Province's Department of Transport, Nguyen Van Dan, said that the boat has capacity of 25 passengers and was operated by Phi Long Company.

Initial investigation showed that the boat had a valid operating permit and all the passengers were wearing life jackets," Dan said. "It did not collide with something. We're still investigating the cause of the accident."

A Chinese tourist who joined the tour told Dan Tri/Dtinews on December 26 that as they were going to visit a fishing village, the boat overturned and sank very quickly.

"Some nearby boats and local authorities arrived very soon to save us," she said.

Covering some 570 square kilometres, Nha Trang Bay has 19 islands with a diverse marine ecosystem.

Dtinews