Vietnam could emerge as the world’s next drone capital, industry experts said at the Vietnam Private Economic Landscape Program 2025 (ViPEL 2025) forum, citing the nation’s growing technological capability and strategic advantages in the fast-expanding low-altitude economy.
The drone and low-altitude aviation sector — encompassing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), and air taxis — is projected to reach US$700 billion globally by 2035, said Tran Anh Tuan, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Vietnam UAV Network.
“If Vietnam seizes the opportunity, the domestic low-altitude economy could be worth around US$10 billion in the coming years,” Tuan noted.
Countries such as China and the United States are already moving fast. In Shenzhen, drones have been deployed for urban delivery services, while Amazon targets 500 million drone deliveries by 2030.
Experts said Vietnam has the ingredients to build a complete drone technology ecosystem, including research and development, component manufacturing, UAV and eVTOL production, and unmanned traffic management (UTM) infrastructure.
“This is a field where Vietnam can truly leap forward,” said Truong Gia Binh, Chairman of FPT Corporation. “We have never had such a major opportunity.” He emphasized ongoing cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and the Low-Altitude Economy Alliance as a gateway for Vietnam to join the global innovation race.
However, experts warned that regulatory hurdles remain the biggest barrier. Current UAV management and security rules are highly restrictive, limiting local testing and R&D. They called for stronger public–private collaboration and proposed that Ho Chi Minh City establish a dedicated drone testing zone to allow more flexible policies and spur industry growth.
