Tu shared these insights at the Vietnam Low-Altitude Economy 2025 International Forum, held on November 14 in Hanoi under the theme: “Shaping the future of low-altitude economy in Vietnam – From policy to practice.”

The low-altitude economy encompasses economic activities occurring below 1,000 meters  -  and in some cases up to 5,000 meters  -  leveraging both manned and unmanned aerial technologies, smart low-altitude networks, drone manufacturing, infrastructure development, service delivery, and airspace safety.

At the launch of the Low-Altitude Economy Alliance (LAE) on October 10, experts estimated that globally, the low-altitude aviation sector alone could be worth USD 700 billion by 2035. For Vietnam, the economic potential is projected to reach USD 10 billion.

With its favorable geopolitical location, innovation-driven policies, and a dynamic young workforce, Vietnam is seen as having a “once-in-a-millennium opportunity” to become a regional and global center for the low-altitude economy.

According to Tu, this emerging economy offers a vast growth frontier in the sky  -  a space long overlooked. He cited various applications of drones (UAVs) in agriculture, e-commerce logistics, smart cities, national defense, security, and disaster response.

“In the Mekong Delta alone, 3,000 drones are operating across 1.5 million hectares. By 2025, that number could double nationwide,” Tu noted.

He added that the UAV and agricultural robotics market is expected to reach USD 363.7 million by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 4.76%  -  large enough to fuel supporting industries like operations, maintenance, and training services.

Drones have already been used in Vietnam to deliver aid during historic floods in Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, and Bac Ninh, and to automate deliveries at Lạng Sơn logistics hubs  -  reducing both time and cost while overcoming tough terrain.

Tu emphasized that the low-altitude economy is no longer about whether to pursue it, but how to turn fragmented initiatives into a unified national strategy.

Meanwhile, Vo Xuan Hoai, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), highlighted that many countries already regard aerospace and UAVs as strategic tech sectors. He believes UAVs represent a niche where Vietnam can deeply integrate into global value chains.

He also revealed that the Vietnamese government is committed to enabling the development of this ecosystem and has directed agencies to support businesses facing challenges in this space.

Agreeing with these views, Tran Anh Tuan  -  Vice President of the Vietnam Association for Unmanned Aerial Systems (AUVS VN)  -  argued that Vietnam has all the ingredients to become a low-altitude economic powerhouse.

He cited the country’s stable geopolitical position, core tech capabilities (software, AI, and unmanned traffic management systems), manufacturing potential, and mature supporting industries.

To propel this sector, Tuan proposed several initiatives, including:

Establishing a legal framework and regulatory sandbox
Investing in domestic R&D centers and low-altitude industrial parks
Training high-quality human resources
Building a comprehensive innovation ecosystem and promoting global cooperation

Forum participants also recommended policy proposals such as managing low-altitude airspace, accelerating the development of UAVs/UAMs for various socioeconomic sectors, and enabling a new strategic path for the country in the era of low-altitude aviation.

Vietnam’s roadmap targets a talent pool of 100,000 engineers and USD 2–3 billion in revenue by 2030, and surpassing USD 10 billion with 1 million new jobs by 2035. Looking ahead, Vietnam aspires to become the region’s leading production and service hub for the low-altitude economy.

“When we talk about the future, we often think of space or Mars,” said Vu Anh Tu. “But for Vietnam, the closest future lies in our low-altitude airspace. Seizing this opportunity not only gives rise to a new economic sector but also inspires the intelligence and aspirations of our engineers and scientists. It promises better services for remote and island communities and secures Vietnam a stronger voice in the global tech landscape.”

Du Lam