HALONG BAY, Vietnam (Reuters) -The death toll from a tourist boat accident in Vietnam’s Halong Bay climbed to at least 38 with several people still missing, the government said, as rescuers continued to search for survivors while bracing for the approach of Typhoon Wipha.

The vessel capsized on Saturday afternoon carrying 48 tourists and five crew members in one of the worst boating accidents in recent years in the popular tourist area.

“At least 38 of those on board have been confirmed dead and 10 rescued,” the government said in a statement.

The official Vietnam News Agency reported that all the tourists were Vietnamese, including several children.

Dozens of rescuers, including border guards, navy personnel, police and professional divers, have been deployed. Although the sea had calmed, weather conditions limited visibility, making rescue operations difficult.

Rescuers managed to retrieve the sunken boat, the government said.

The accident took place around 2 p.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Saturday, soon after Typhoon Wipha entered the South China Sea.

Authorities reported strong winds, heavy rainfall and lightning in the area at the time of the incident, adding that these conditions were not yet influenced by the approaching typhoon but were due to wind patterns over the northern region.

Halong Bay, about 200 km (125 miles) northeast of Hanoi, attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. Boat tours are particularly popular.

In 2011, the sinking of a tour boat in Halong Bay killed 12 people, including foreign tourists.

Typhoon Wipha, the third to hit the South China Sea this year, is projected to make landfall along Vietnam’s northern coast early next week.

(Reporting by Phuong Nguyen; Editing by Edmund Klamann)

ROHTAK: In a significant academic-industry collaboration, Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ITC Hotels’ Classic Golf & Country Club, launching India’s first Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP) in hospitality and tourism under the public university framework, aligned with the UGC Guidelines 2025.The MoU was formally exchanged between Dr. Krishan Kant Gupta, Registrar, MDU, and Pradeep Kumar, Executive Vice President, ITC Hotel Classic Golf Country Club in the august presence of Prof. Rajbir Singh, Vice Chancellor, MDU. Under this collaboration, two skill-integrated undergraduate programmes—BBA (Hospitality & Services Management) and BBA (Tourism, Travel & Events Management)—will be introduced, each with an annual intake of 30 students.These four-year programmes follow a hybrid model, with the first two years dedicated to academic coursework at MDU, and the latter two years structured as an industry apprenticeship at ITC’s Classic Golf & Country Club. The curriculum will be co-designed with ITC professionals to ensure alignment with evolving industry standards.“This initiative marks a new era in skill-based education. Through this collaboration, MDU is pioneering a model that bridges academia and industry, nurturing career-ready professionals,” said Prof. Rajbir Singh, Vice Chancellor, MDU.Key features of the MoU include a monthly stipend for students during apprenticeship, along with provision for meals and accommodation. The program also includes field visits, guest lectures, mentorship by industry professionals, and the potential for performance-based placements.The initiative was lauded by university leaders including Prof. Harish Kumar (Dean Academic Affairs), Prof. Rajpal Singh, Prof. Ashish Dahiya, Prof. Pardeep Ahlawat, Prof. Sandeep Malik, and Prof. Ajay Rajan, who termed it a benchmark in NEP-2020-aligned, employability-driven education.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.

PATTAYA, Thailand — As Thailand continues promoting its “Welcome All” tourism revival campaign, some foreign visitors in Pattaya are quietly wondering: What happens if the Chinese return — and what if they don’t?

Strolling along Jomtien Beach or lounging in bars on Soi Buakhao, it’s not uncommon to hear debates about whether Pattaya’s fortunes still hinge on mass Chinese tourism, or if the city has already moved on.

“They’ll be back,” said one longtime European retiree. “Just as soon as they realize there’s nothing to do in Vietnam or elsewhere.”

But not everyone agrees. “No one really cares about Chinese tourists,” one tourist bluntly claimed. “They’ve never been big spenders and will never be. Get more Westerners — they’re the real big spenders.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by others who say Western retirees are the real financial engine behind Pattaya’s nightlife and hospitality industries. “Retirees can spend 10,000 baht a night,” said a bar owner. “Chinese groups come, take pictures, and maybe spend much less than that as per person.”

However, some locals are less certain. “Indians have taken over,” one Pattaya shopkeeper shrugged. “Chinese aren’t too keen on coming here now.”

But another argued, “Maybe you haven’t seen the Chinese eat and spend — they do it easily here, especially in restaurants and shopping malls.”

Yet despite the critiques, businesses haven’t given up on the return of Chinese mass tourism. Many remember the packed tour buses and back-to-back bookings before the pandemic. “Obviously, you haven’t seen nothing yet,” said a Thai tour guide, optimistic about a comeback.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is working hard, busting their whole office to make the return happen sooner or later — arranging chartered flights, fast lanes at airports, elevated safety measures, and AI-aided security to welcome visitors back smoothly and confidently.

Others remain skeptical — comparing hopes for the Chinese revival to the long-dashed expectations of Japanese tourist rebounds after the 1991 economic crash. “They are the same people who awaited the revival in the number of Japanese tourists,” one expat remarked dryly.

For now, Pattaya waits — balancing its hopes on a mix of returning Chinese visitors, Indian family tours, and Western retirees. One thing is clear: no one group will carry the city forward alone.