What foreigners need to know about flying drones in Vietnam
Vietnam has introduced new rules for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. For foreigners, it is especially important to note that the requirements depend on the drone’s characteristics, the purpose of its use, and the area over which the flight is planned.
If a drone weighs less than 250 g and is used exclusively for recreational purposes, no separate flight permit is required. However, the owner must notify the local military command in advance. During the flight, the aircraft must be kept within direct visual line of sight at all times.
The exemption of small drones from the permit requirement does not mean they can be flown anywhere. Flights remain prohibited in designated no-fly zones and restricted in areas subject to special requirements.
Before each launch, it is recommended to check the selected area on the official portal of Vietnam’s Ministry of Defense at cambay.mod.gov.vn. On the interactive map, zones where drone use is prohibited are marked in red, while restricted areas are marked in yellow. The system covers the entire territory of the country and is intended, among others, for foreign users.
On the portal, you can find the specific location of the planned launch and determine in advance whether it falls within a prohibited or restricted zone. This is especially important in tourist destinations, major cities, and areas near facilities that may be subject to additional restrictions.
Information about such areas must be updated every two years, or earlier if necessary, if the boundaries or status of the zones change.
At the same time, the drone registration system itself in Vietnam is still in the implementation stage and is not yet operating in full. Therefore, drone owners are advised to additionally check the current requirements before flying and monitor announcements from official authorities.
Source: https://www.vietnam.vn/en/su-dung-uav-nhu-the-nao-de-dung-phap-luat-va-dap-ung-nhu-cau-cua-ban-than https://cambay.mod.gov.vn/
