This is the nerve-wracking moment a group of tourists braced for impact as their bus narrowly avoided a head-on collision with an overtaking truck.

The coach, carrying foreign holidaymakers, was travelling along a highway in Hanoi, Vietnam, when a heavy goods vehicle suddenly swerved into its lane.

Dashcam footage shows the truck veering away at the last second as the quick-thinking bus driver slammed on the brakes, bringing the vehicle to a halt just inches from the lorry's rear on September 21.

Terrified passengers, strapped into their seats, clutched the handles as the bus jolted violently before breathing a collective sigh of relief.

Moments later, they broke into applause, praising their driver for averting a potentially deadly crash.