The scene of the bus accident on the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet expressway, early morning of 9/7. Photo: Nguyen Tu

Initial reports indicate that around 2 a.m., a Nhu Y 78 sleeper bus (Phu Yen license plate) was traveling on the Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet expressway northbound. Upon reaching a section passing through Ham Liem commune, Lam Dong province (formerly Binh Thuan), it rear-ended a Ninh Thuan sleeper bus also carrying passengers and traveling in the same direction.

The impact caused the front of the trailing bus to become embedded in the rear of the leading bus, resulting in three immediate fatalities. Over 40 injured passengers from both vehicles were transported to Binh Thuan General Hospital for emergency treatment.

At the scene, both severely damaged buses remained within the same lane, with debris scattered across the road.

Expressway traffic police arrived to manage the situation, directing northbound traffic to exit onto National Highway 28 at the Ma Lam interchange, then continue onto National Highway 1 to avoid congestion.

Authorities conducted a scene examination and autopsies to investigate the cause of the accident.

The over 100 km Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet expressway runs through the former Binh Thuan province and is a segment of the expressway connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Nha Trang. This expressway has two lanes in each direction, lacking emergency stopping lanes but providing emergency stopping points every 4 to 5 km, with a maximum speed limit of 90 km/h. Several serious accidents have occurred on this expressway.

Viet Quoc