A food vendor leapt from a sinking boat after it struck a raft hotel in Laos.

The woman was travelling by boat to sell goods to guests at a floating riverside hotel when the vessel lost balance on the river in Vientiane province.

She was onboard with her son and daughter when the boat began to tip, forcing her to escape as it started taking on water.

Dramatic footage shows the distressed mother clinging to the boat while hotel staff and tourists rush over to help pull the family to safety.

Moments later, the boat is seen sinking in the Nam Lik River.

Guests were still seated and eating dinner beside the accommodation as the incident unfolded at Meuang Feuang Riverside 2 Hotel on January 21.

The hotel later said the accident was caused by the boat operator's lack of experience, combined with strong river currents at night, which caused the vessel to lose stability and sink.

A hotel spokesman said: 'Riverside 2 Raft Hotel expresses its regret over the incident and apologises for the disruption caused.'

Authorities confirmed no injuries were reported.

Raft hotels in the area are floating structures moored to the riverbank and are commonly used to accommodate tourists and diners, with rooms, restaurants, and walkways built on pontoons that rise and fall with the river's water level.