The beach where the incident happens. (Photo by Hoang Anh)
According to initial reports, the victims were on holiday with about 15 family members. Around 2pm, most of the group left, leaving only four at the beach.
The cousins took an inflatable paddle board to sea, but a strong wave overturned it and both fell into the water.
The 19-year-old was pulled ashore and taken to a clinic but showed no signs of life. The 14-year-old was found an hour later, but doctors could not revive her.
Hai Tac (Pirate) Island, where the tragedy occurred, consists of 14 small islands and is popular for fishing, diving and paddle boarding, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year.
