According to local authorities, the 24-bed bus was passing through Hung Thinh Commune, over 30 kilometers from Dong Nai's capital Bien Hoa City, at around 2:30 a.m. when it veered and struck an embankment on the right side of the road.
The moment when the sleeper bus bursts into flames on National Highway 1 through Dong Nai City, July 21, 2026. Video by Thanh Huong
Following the impact, the bus continued moving before crashing into a second embankment and coming to a complete stop.
Flames erupted from underneath the vehicle and quickly engulfed the entire cabin.
The driver, 41-year-old Tran Thanh Hai, shouted for the passengers to evacuate, but the fire spread too rapidly for many to escape the wreckage in time.
