Vietnam boat sinking kills tourists

[hniHnitsuJ 8]

http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-15749633/24223279

so sad..

[tcTTct 37]

That's sad, my girl told me about this last night. I was on a 3 day Halong cruise just 3 months ago. The boat had problems since the water was calm and it happened when everybody were asleep.

[NODINK 0]

Another potential disaster is the Hydrofoils from Saigon to Vung Tau. My boat's engine died in the middle of the river after 20' into the trip on my last trip in Oct 2009. Took 1/2 hr to get another boat out to rescue us. I wouldn't put my foot on that boat again.

[Tuanv 2]

I don't want to ride boat or barge in Vietnam period. The last time I was in a barge, there were so many huge trucks and cargoes. The barge owners and workers do not weight trucks and cars or anything. So, it is a good idea to skip barge and boat in Vietnam.

[just phobulous 2]

Some of these boats are definitely scary !! Witch reminds me.. There were two ferry's that my wife and I had to take between her parents house in the country and HCM city. I couldn't help but chuckle a little when I saw one for the first time. I think the diesel motor that they were using must have been at least twice my age. I wasn't too impressed with the captains "skills" either. However... what I found to be the real danger was the boarding and disembarking of these vessels. When the captain finally landed the craft and the ramp came down it instantly turned into pandemonium. Everyone just starts up their bikes and blasts up the ramp before anyone has come off of the ferry. There was absolutely no order to it at all. I was blown away at the absence of patience and total disregard for each others safety. If you value the hide on your legs and ankles.. I would definitely stay back for a few minutes and let all of the pushy people on and off first !!

[VinhBao MyTam 3]

As with anything you do in a less-developed country, you just have to consider & weigh the risks before you do it, knowing that lots of the safety is not going to be up to US standards. We plan and be careful as much as we can, but in the end, accidents happen.

[Dau Que 6]

According to RFA (Radio Free Asia) radio, each victim will be compensated about $20 million DONG from the boat owner's insurance policy and the same amount from the local gov't for a total of $40 million DONG, which roughly equals to $1,925 USD.

Yip, that's how much your life is worth in Vietnam.

Who still insists in living in VN?

[VinhBao MyTam 3]

According to RFA (Radio Free Asia) radio, each victim will be compensated about $20 million DONG from the boat owner's insurance policy and the same amount from the local gov't for a total of $40 million DONG, which roughly equals to $1,925 USD.

Yip, that's how much your life is worth in Vietnam.

Who still insists in living in VN?

However, if these were foreign tourists, hopefully they were smart enough to get traveler's insurance and their policy will also pay them. Knowing that local insurance & responsibility will be based on local currency is EXACTLY the reason they have these products.

[Piefre 15]

I'm nervous about this because my parents are going to visit Vietnam and probably go on one of these boats (not sleep on one but tour on one for a day or so). I really wish they would reconsider, but they are adamant about doing this anyway. I suppose this sort of thing does not happen too often, but I still worry, you know?

[VinhBao MyTam 3]

I'm nervous about this because my parents are going to visit Vietnam and probably go on one of these boats (not sleep on one but tour on one for a day or so). I really wish they would reconsider, but they are adamant about doing this anyway. I suppose this sort of thing does not happen too often, but I still worry, you know?

Don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure people do far more dangerous things all the time.

[Teacher Mark 53]

According to RFA (Radio Free Asia) radio, each victim will be compensated about $20 million DONG from the boat owner's insurance policy and the same amount from the local gov't for a total of $40 million DONG, which roughly equals to $1,925 USD.

Yip, that's how much your life is worth in Vietnam.

Who still insists in living in VN?

That figure is accurate and I still insist upon living in Vietnam.

2 years and counting DQ. Keep the motivational comments coming.