The pilot is to be conducted under a flight permit issued by the Operations Department under the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, valid from January 1 to December 31, 2026, and fully complies with regulations on flight management, aviation safety, national defence, security and social order. 

The programme is part of a controlled sandbox for testing new UAV-related technologies within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park, in line with Resolution No. 20/2024/NQ-HDND of the municipal People’s Council. The resolution provides a framework for piloting advanced technologies with high application potential in real operating conditions. 

The trial focuses on assessing the feasibility of UAVs for short-range cargo delivery, the safety, stability and operational efficiency of solutions developed by domestic enterprises, and coordination among state agencies, technology firms, postal logistics operators and retailers. 

Pham Huynh Quang Hieu, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Science and Technology, said the pilot goes beyond technical testing and represents a strategic step towards standardising controlled UAV operations. Results from the programme will help authorities refine regulatory frameworks and development policies, expand technology applications in urban logistics and public services, and support the city’s ambition to become a leading regional innovation hub. 

The city aims to promote UAV use in urban delivery - a promising field contributing to smart logistics and postal services for e-commerce, smart cities and high-tech public services, while fostering UAVs as a strategic technology sector underpinning the innovation ecosystem. 

Over time, the pilot aims to help local businesses master key technologies, boost innovation, and create smart logistics models that fit with urban growth, reinforcing HCM City’s leading role in high-tech applications. 

Before the launch, the Saigon Hi-Tech Park Management Board and the Department of Science and Technology evaluated the technological capabilities of participating enterprises and got the necessary infrastructure, workspace, and operational plans ready. 

Nguyen Ky Phung, head of the Management Board of the Saigon Hi-Tech Park, said urban UAV logistics pose challenges in both technology and airspace safety, making pilot testing essential to generate real-world data for policy refinement. He added that the low-altitude economy could generate billions of US dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs for Vietnam in the coming decade, with HCM City well-placed to become a regional hub for UAV production and application.

UAVS competition calls for innovative technological ideas

The United Associations of Vietnamese Students in Australia’s New South Wales (UAVS-NSW) has launched its IT idea competition UAVS Hackatrix "Fix the Glitch" 2021.