Drones represent a new form of transportation with unique behaviors that don’t align well with traditional aviation laws, which creates regulatory gaps.

Nguyen Thanh, a researcher in microwave and acoustics at the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT), said legal frameworks must be built to support the healthy development of this field. This will encourage participation from companies, organizations, and individuals. At the same time, technical infrastructure must be developed.

He noted the key differences between low-altitude UAVs and traditional aircraft - particularly in flight paths and the broader scope of personal ownership. In the future, privately owned UAVs could become the majority.

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Nguyen Thanh, a microwave and acoustic systems researcher at PTIT, proposes a drone supervision and management framework in Vietnam. Photo: Du Lam

The personal ownership of drones, combined with their autonomous and flexible flying abilities, renders traditional permit and supervision methods ineffective.

Without strict management, drones could be exploited for illegal activities such as unauthorized flights, smuggling, transporting contraband, or even terrorism and military operations.

Nguyen Thanh emphasized the need for a transparent, timely, and comprehensive legal corridor to allow safe drone operations by individuals and organizations in Vietnam.

Predicting that drones will eventually be used in daily life like motorcycles or cars, he proposed forming a specialized “air traffic police” force and a robust technical infrastructure to manage low-altitude UAVs.

To address this, he proposed a four-part drone monitoring and management system: a centralized control and data processing center; legal UAV management via 4G/5G cellular networks; a radar network to detect illegal UAV activity; and countermeasure equipment (both soft and hard suppression tools) to neutralize dangerous drones when necessary.

Nguyen Thanh suggested that drone buyers should be required to register their devices with authorities to receive a unique identification code - akin to license plates for vehicles.

Each drone should be equipped with a 4G/5G communication module connected to terrestrial mobile networks. This would allow the device to transmit coordinates and flight parameters in real time during operation.

As for detecting illegal UAVs, a low-altitude radar network would be installed in designated surveillance zones. The system would compare incoming flight data with a centralized database of approved drones and flight plans to flag unauthorized aircraft.

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A Vietnamese-made drone on display at the Vietnam Low-Altitude Economy Forum 2025. Photo: Du Lam

Nguyen Thanh noted that China is already piloting drone monitoring systems in select regions under a “crossing the river by feeling the stones” approach.

In Vietnam, he proposed trialing a 3–5 square kilometer monitoring zone before 2028. By 2030, critical areas would be covered; by 2032, the system would expand to the provincial level; and by 2035, to districts and communes.

Le Thi Phuong, Deputy Director of the Air Traffic Information Center at the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation, said the national airspace is already crowded with diverse aerial vehicles. The influx of low-altitude UAVs could increase safety risks.

In fact, some drone-related incidents have already disrupted civilian aviation. For instance, in June 2025, Tho Xuan Airport in Thanh Hoa had to reroute or halt nighttime flights after repeated UAV intrusions. The airport responded with enhanced surveillance and tightened aviation security protocols.

This illustrates that drones are not just a potential risk - they are an active threat to civil aviation.

According to Phuong, the corporation has been modernizing its infrastructure and adopting new technologies to ensure flight safety. Regarding low-altitude UAVs, it is currently building a shared database for coordination.

In countries with advanced drone regulation, such as the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires UAVs to transmit real-time electronic identification. The FAA has also established a dedicated drone regulation committee and designated airspaces to balance the needs of different users.

To enhance safety, the FAA has introduced special low-altitude corridors near densely populated areas, obstacles, and airports.

Once Vietnam establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework and efficient oversight mechanisms, drones could become a powerful driver of the low-altitude economy - a new industry projected to contribute $10 billion to the national economy by 2035.

Du Lam