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Editorial Team

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Drone Laws in Vietnam

Summary of Drone Laws in Vietnam

Hobbyist Drone Laws For Residents of Vietnam

Drone Operations in Vietnam are currently regulated.


  • Hobbyist drone flights are allowed in Vietnam
  • Hobbyist Vietnam drone pilot license/approval is required
  • Hobbyist Drone registration is not required in Vietnam for hobbyists
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in Vietnam for hobbyists
  • Drone Insurance is not required but recommended for hobbyists’ drone operations in Vietnam

Read below for more details on Hobbyist Drone Laws in Vietnam and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Commercial Drone Laws For Residents of Vietnam

Drone Operations in Vietnam are currently regulated.


  • Commercial drone flights are allowed in Vietnam
  • Commercial Vietnam drone pilot license/permit is required
  • Commercial Drone registration is not required in Vietnam for commercial drone operators
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in Vietnam for Commercial Drone Operators
  • Drone Insurance is required for commercial drone operations in Vietnam

Read below for more details on Commercial Drone Laws in Vietnam and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Drone Laws For Visitors To Vietnam

Drone Operations in Vietnam are currently regulated.


  • Foreign visitor drone flights are allowed in Vietnam
  • Foreign visitor drone pilot license/approval is required
  • Drone registration is not required in Vietnam for visitors/tourists
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in Vietnam for tourists
  • Drone Insurance is not required but recommended for tourist drone operations in Vietnam

Read below for more details on Drone Laws in Vietnam for Visitors (Tourists) and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Drone Laws For Government Drone Operators in Vietnam

Drone Operations in Vietnam are currently regulated.


  • Government drone flights are allowed in Vietnam
  • Government drone pilot license is not required
  • Drone registration is not required in Vietnam for Government operations
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in Vietnam for Government operations
  • Drone Insurance is not required for Government drone operations in Vietnam

Read below for more details on Drone Laws in Vietnam for Government Drone Operations and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

 Drone Regulator In Vietnam: Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV)

Contact Information

If you need additional details we have not covered or specific case help, contact the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam at:

  • Address: 1 Nguyen Tri Phuong street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi
  • Phone: (+84) 04-38722394 Some alternate numbers provided in the law – 069 533200; 069 533105
  • Emailtinbai@caa.gov.vn

Please continue reading for more details on Vietnam Drone Laws.


UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Vietnam

The Vietnamese agency responsible for drone safety, CAAV, has provided several internet-accessible details on flying a drone for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details go to the link above.

Are drones allowed in Vietnam?

According to CAAV, drones are allowed in Vietnam, subject to CAAV regulations. Read on for more details.

Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Vietnam:

  • Each drone flight conducted in Vietnam requires a special flight license. Applications must be submitted to the Operations Bureau of the General Command Post of the Ministry of Defense at least 14 days before the planned date of the flight. 
  • Drones are not permitted to transport radioactive, flammable, or explosive materials. 
  • Drones may not be used to launch, shoot, or jettison potentially hazardous objects or substances. 
  • Drones can fly to a maximum altitude of 492 feet. 
  • Drones must weigh less than 26 lbs. 
  • Drones are not permitted to be flown over military bases or government buildings. 
  • Drones are only permitted to be flown during daylight hours. 
  • Without a license issued for that purpose, drones may not be mounted with aerial equipment or used for aerial videography or photography. 
  • Drones are not permitted to fly flags or banners, distribute leaflets, or engage in any other form of propaganda.

How to obtain a drone permit in Vietnam?

Permission is required for recreational drone use in Vietnam. You can obtain it on your own or through the assistance of an agency. In both instances, you must submit a flight license application dossier that includes the following: 

  • A flight license application. Apply at least 14 days before your scheduled flight (no modifications less than ten days before) 
  • Technical documentation for your drone includes photographs of the type and a written explanation of its technical aviation properties. 
  • A license or other legal document authorizing your drone to take off from or land on an airfield, land surface, or water. 
  • All other papers and documents of your drone.

Note for Foreign Operator

You can bring your drone into Vietnam.

You need authorization from the Ministry of Defense, and although you can fill out the form yourself (it’s in Vietnamese), it can take up to 3 weeks to be approved.

This process will cost you: between $ 350 and $ 700, depending on who is doing your permit. And that’s only for one day of flying.

Completing a drone recreational permit yourself in Vietnam

You will need to complete the form and answer detailed questions about your stay and drone category, including the zone in which flight activities are permitted, flight direction and trail, flight times and duration, regulations regarding flight coordination notification, and flight supervision. This will need to be submitted to the Defense Ministry.

Completing a drone recreational permit via an agency in Vietnam

Another option is to hire a local company to assist you with the visa application, which appears to be possible within seven working days. 

Permits range in price from $350 to $700 per day of flying, depending on your chosen agency. Bear in mind that you cannot change days in the event of inclement weather, which means you could quickly find yourself in debt.


Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Vietnam

See the general rules above.


Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in Vietnam

See the general rules above.


Useful published information on flying drones in Vietnam

Here is an example of what you can expect to discover when flying a drone legally in Vietnam…


Authoritative Sources of Information on Vietnam Drone Laws

We will attempt to keep an updated list of online authoritative links to regulators and other official websites here:



NOTE: This page is about the Regulation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS), Small UAS, Remote Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), and drone are interchangeable terms unless specified. Model Aircraft, toy, remote-controlled, and RC aircraft may be covered by the same regulations unless specified.


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It’s an easy-to-use printable PDF that covers all your bases.


Traveling with a Drone?

Click here to read our Comprehensive Guide For Traveling With A Drone.



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8 responses to “Drone Laws in Vietnam”

  1. Ciaran

    Hi there,

    I’m still a little lost as to what this means for me, I’m a tourist with a DJI mini 2 (<245g). Do I need permission or license as stated above? This seems different to the permits as they look to be for commercial.

    Cheers

    C

    1. Editorial Team

      You will need a permit which is provided by the Ministry of Defense (see notes for foreign operator above, and link to decree and form).

  2. Ciaran

    Hi,

    I’m sorry but I’m still at a loss as to where I stand. I’m a tourist and planning to travel through Vietnam with my Mini 2. Reading the above it suggest “hobbyists” + “tourists” do not need a permit but must register a license? Is this for drones above 250g as in other countries? But elsewhere you state we can’t get a license??

    Apologies, but any clarity here would be amazing. As mentioned I’m just a tourist, or if you are able to share the source material (can’t find it on the caav site)

    Kind regards

    C.

    1. Editorial Team

      Ciaran, you can try contacting CAAV with the information provided above. Here is a link to the law and document that needs to be filled: https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Giao-thong-Van-tai/Nghi-dinh-36-2008-ND-CP-quan-ly-tau-bay-khong-nguoi-lai-phuong-tien-bay-sieu-nhe-64482.aspx

  3. Talita Araújo

    Hello, do you have any recommendation about an agency that could do the service of applying a request to CAAV?

    1. Editorial Team

      We suggest you start with your tour guide or travel agency arranging a visit to Vietnam. They mah have affiliates that could be helpful.

  4. Bernard Vinette

    Good morning
    I should take 20 days vacation to visit your country
    For the question of days for using my drone I cannot give you an exact day. it to hard.
    If you need the days I’m going to use my drone, then I think I’ll forget about that, because it’s impossible to make such a request.
    So I still have my cell phone and my camera.
    But, I’m going to wait for a response to see if I can give you one or two days in advance, that I’m going to fly my drone on such a day.

    The price it vietnam dollards ?
    Thank you for your reply.

    Bernard Vinette

    1. Editorial Team

      Bernard, we are not a regulator. Please contact the regulator using links provided in the page above.

Leave a Comment

8 thoughts on “Drone Laws in Vietnam”

  1. Hi there,

    I’m still a little lost as to what this means for me, I’m a tourist with a DJI mini 2 (<245g). Do I need permission or license as stated above? This seems different to the permits as they look to be for commercial.

    Cheers

    C

    Reply
    • You will need a permit which is provided by the Ministry of Defense (see notes for foreign operator above, and link to decree and form).

      Reply
  2. Hi,

    I’m sorry but I’m still at a loss as to where I stand. I’m a tourist and planning to travel through Vietnam with my Mini 2. Reading the above it suggest “hobbyists” + “tourists” do not need a permit but must register a license? Is this for drones above 250g as in other countries? But elsewhere you state we can’t get a license??

    Apologies, but any clarity here would be amazing. As mentioned I’m just a tourist, or if you are able to share the source material (can’t find it on the caav site)

    Kind regards

    C.

    Reply
    • We suggest you start with your tour guide or travel agency arranging a visit to Vietnam. They mah have affiliates that could be helpful.

      Reply
  3. Good morning
    I should take 20 days vacation to visit your country
    For the question of days for using my drone I cannot give you an exact day. it to hard.
    If you need the days I’m going to use my drone, then I think I’ll forget about that, because it’s impossible to make such a request.
    So I still have my cell phone and my camera.
    But, I’m going to wait for a response to see if I can give you one or two days in advance, that I’m going to fly my drone on such a day.

    The price it vietnam dollards ?
    Thank you for your reply.

    Bernard Vinette

    Reply

Leave a Comment