General Information

The UAV industry in Vietnam is transitioning into a phase of building an integrated ecosystem encompassing research, manufacturing, and applications, with the participation of the public sector, defense enterprises, and private companies. UAVs have demonstrated effectiveness in agriculture, infrastructure inspection, and certain rescue scenarios, while also unlocking significant growth potential associated with the low-altitude economy. Emerging regulatory frameworks and strategic technology programs are enabling risk-based governance and fostering innovation.

To achieve greater technological autonomy and deeper participation in the global value chain, it is essential to prioritize a synchronized approach. This includes developing core technologies according to a clear roadmap, fostering interdisciplinary human resources, establishing testing and certification infrastructure, expanding markets through procurement mechanisms and standardization, and ensuring safety and security in flight operations management.

The main contribution of this study is to provide a structured overview framework for UAV research and policymaking in Vietnam, integrating three key dimensions—technology, market, and institutions—to identify bottlenecks and prioritize interventions. The findings also suggest future research directions, including measuring localization levels across system components, evaluating the economic efficiency of UAV applications by sector (return on investment, lifecycle costs), and analyzing the impact of standardization and licensing on innovation and flight safety.