The Ministry of Science and Technology announced this plan in July 2026. It is Vietnam's first test area for a low-altitude economy. The plan follows the Law on Digital Technology Industry and other laws.

Nguyen Van Thuat said the program is not just a test for one province.

The program is important because it tests a new economic sector. If it works, it will help make national policies for Vietnam's low-altitude economy.

Why was Dien Bien chosen?

Dien Bien was chosen because of its mountains, remote areas, and high costs for delivering goods.

The province is near Laos and China and has many forests. It often has problems with monitoring resources, preventing forest fires, and responding to disasters.

The ministry says drones can help with these problems.

There are three main areas of focus

The program will run until May 2027 and focus on three areas.

The first area is smart farming, which includes using drones for planting, spraying, and monitoring crops.

The second area is delivering goods to remote areas using drones.

The third area is managing public services and natural resources, including mapping and monitoring the environment.

The project aims to have a safety rate of over 99% for flights.

The pilot program also expects to create business models that can reduce costs or time by 20-30%.

Regulatory flexibility for tech companies

The test area introduces some exemptions from regulations to encourage innovation.

Tech companies may not have to follow some rules, such as flight requirements and testing procedures.

All trial operations will be closely watched by the Ministry of National Defence and other authorities.

Building a new industry

Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong said the ministry is working closely with local governments.

Instead of just giving policy guidance, the ministry is working directly with Dien Bien's government.

After Dien Bien's approval, nearly 10 other provinces are interested in similar test areas.

Nguyen Van Thuat said the Ministry of Science and Technology will create a legal framework and support the innovation ecosystem.

Data from the trial will help create national standards and policies for Vietnam's low-altitude economy.

The goal is not just to increase drone flights.

The goal is to build a complete economic system that includes businesses, technology, and infrastructure.

Du Lam