Vietnam Enters Low-Altitude Economy Race with Drone Delivery

A drone flew a package from Can Gio to Vung Tau in 15 minutes.
This short flight is a test for a new kind of delivery service.
This test is part of a bigger plan for Vietnam to join the global low-altitude economy.
This is a glimpse of the future of delivery.
Vietnam started its first drone delivery route over the sea in February.
Each drone can carry a package weighing up to 2kg and fly 12km in 15 minutes.
This new route is much faster than delivering by road or boat.
Drones are being used in many different areas of the economy.
Drones were recently used to spray fertilizer on coffee plants.
Drones are used for mapping, inspecting power lines, and helping in emergencies.
The low-altitude economy is a big and growing market.
One expert says the global market for drone applications could reach $90 billion by 2030.
The sector is changing so fast that predictions are always being updated.
Even the defense industry is using more drones.
A study says aerial mobility services could be worth over $1 trillion by 2040.
China wants the low-altitude economy to contribute over $500 billion to its GDP by 2035.
China plans to build 38 air corridors and 200 heliports to support this goal.
This puts China in competition with the US, EU, Singapore, and UAE.
The International Civil Aviation Organization is making global rules for low-altitude airspace.
Vietnam wants to be a leader in drone technology.
Drones will play a big role in Vietnam's low-altitude economy.
Vietnam sees drones as one of its key technology products.
The government has set ambitious targets for drone development.
By 2027, Vietnam wants to be able to design and make its own drones.
Vietnam wants to make most of the parts for its drones and control the technology.
By 2030, Vietnam wants to be able to make most of its own drones and supply its own market.
Industry leaders say the biggest challenge is being independent in technology.
If Vietnam just copies others, it will always be behind.
Vietnamese drones need to be innovative and competitive.
Universities and startups are working hard on drone research.
Vietnam's research ecosystem is growing fast.
Many universities have teams with expertise in robotics and artificial intelligence.
As drones become more important, universities have more reasons to invest in research.
Businesses are working with universities to turn research into products.
The biggest obstacle is turning research into real-world products.
Regulations are slowing down innovation.
Drones need to be tested in the real world, not just in labs.
Drone performance depends on many factors, including software and environment.
Many tests are needed to make sure drones work well.
But getting permission to test drones is difficult in Vietnam.
This slows down the process of designing, testing, and improving drones.
Without the right regulations and testing platforms, Vietnam may struggle to make drones.
The low-altitude economy is more than just a new way to transport things.
It will affect many areas, including logistics, agriculture, and infrastructure.
For Vietnam, the drone flight between Can Gio and Vung Tau is a significant step.
It shows that Vietnam wants to join the global race for the low-altitude economy.
Tran Chung