Da Nang City is proposing a pilot scheme to develop a low‑altitude economy that relies on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The plan is presented as a way to create new growth drivers for the city’s future.

The draft scheme designates four zones where UAVs can be used for cargo transport, tourism, agriculture, urban management and search‑and‑rescue. These applications are meant to demonstrate practical benefits of drone technology.

Tran Ngoc Thach, deputy director of the Da Nang Department of Science and Technology, said the scheme will expand development space, create new industries and markets, and help the city reach its double‑digit economic growth target. He emphasized that the initiative is proactive.

Da Nang’s diverse geography – including coastlines, rivers, islands, hills and forests – together with its airports, seaports, logistics centres, a hi‑tech park and digital technology zones, provides a solid foundation for UAV operations. These assets can link drone services with transport, logistics and technology manufacturing.

The plan stresses building a service market and ecosystem rather than focusing only on equipment, prioritising uses such as logistics, tourism, healthcare and disaster management. The city aims to launch at least three low‑altitude flight service applications between late 2026 and early 2028 and to attract businesses for UAV research, manufacturing, training and testing.

If the UAV strategy succeeds, it could open new industries, create jobs and support the city’s ambition for double‑digit growth. Da Nang’s approach shows how a local government can turn emerging drone technology into an economic engine.