REGULATIONS / VN

Vietnam: drone rules for inspection

Vietnam manages drones under Decree 288/2025/ND-CP (5 November 2025), made under the People's Air Defence Law (in force July 2025). Every drone must be registered with the Ministry of Public Security before use. Pilots need a Ministry of National Defence certificate: Class A (VLOS) for drones of 0.25 kg or more, and Class B (equipment-based) for drones of 2 kg or more flown BVLOS or on programmed routes. Almost every flight needs an MND permit, applied for at least 7 days ahead (12 days if airports are affected). Recreational drones under 0.25 kg outside prohibited or restricted zones are among the few exemptions. Flights at or above 50 m need advance notice to the military and flights above 200 m need ATC coordination, so inspection work must budget for permit lead times.

Checked against official sources

Fields are recorded in the language of the research notes.

Authority	国防省（飛行許可・操縦者ライセンス・技術基準）、公安省（登録）、ベトナム民間航空局 (CAAV) / Ministry of National Defence (flight permits, pilot licences, technical standards); Ministry of Public Security (registration); Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam / Ministry of Construction (coordination where civil aviation is affected)
Main framework	Decree 288/2025/ND-CP on the management of unmanned aircraft and other aerial vehicles (issued 5 November 2025; 8 chapters, 35 articles), made under the Law on People's Air Defence (49/2024/QH15) and Law 98/2025/QH15. VnEconomy reports that it took effect on 5 November 2025, but the effective-date clause was not in the excerpt read (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)
Registration	Every drone must have a registration certificate (or a temporary registration) before operation. Registration is handled by the Ministry of Public Security, which shares the data with the bodies that issue flight permits. Owners must prove lawful ownership (import licence and customs declaration, invoice or transfer document), and aircraft must meet technical standards issued or recognised by the Ministry of National Defence. Whether drones under 0.25 kg are exempt from registration was not confirmed (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)
Remote ID	Decree 288 shares registration data electronically between ministries. Any Remote ID or electronic tracking provision in the articles not read was not checked (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)
Pilot licensing	Pilots must be at least 18 and free of alcohol and drugs. Drones of 0.25 kg or more need a Class A (visual line of sight) certificate. Drones of 2 kg or more flown BVLOS, or on pre-programmed routes through a central controller, need a Class B (equipment-based) certificate. Licences are issued by the Ministry of National Defence after training at an accredited institution and are valid for 10 years. Foreign pilots need a Vietnamese sponsor.
Risk categories	Five weight classes: <0.25 kg, 0.25-<2 kg, 2-<25 kg, 25-<150 kg, ≥150 kg. Drones are also classed by control method (VLOS or equipment-based) and by purpose (commercial, agriculture, survey, recreation, research, training, official use and others).
BVLOS	BVLOS needs a Class B pilot certificate (drones of 2 kg or more) and a flight permit from the Ministry of National Defence.
Night & over people	(not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)
Near structures	Every flight needs a Ministry of National Defence permit, except recreational drones under 0.25 kg flown outside prohibited and restricted zones, and emergency search and rescue. Applications are due at least 7 days before the flight, or 12 days with a NOTAM where airports or published procedures are affected, and a decision is due within 5 working days. Permits are valid up to 30 days for a single flight, 180 days for official or agricultural work and 360 days in traditional flight zones. Prohibited zones are open only to official state duties, and restricted zones need coordination with military and police units. Flights at or above 50 m need advance flight forecasts through the provincial military command, and flights above 200 m need coordination with air traffic control. No specific rule for structures or utilities was found (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)
Indoor & confined	(not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)
Imaging & privacy	The personal data protection framework (Decree 13/2023 and the 2025 Personal Data Protection Law) may apply (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)
Recent changes	The Law on People's Air Defence (49/2024/QH15) took effect 1 July 2025 (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22). Decree 288/2025/ND-CP of 5 November 2025 introduced registration by the Ministry of Public Security, Class A/B pilot certificates, and MND flight permits with set lead times. Authorities may intercept, force down or disable drones that threaten security, and may seize aircraft. Which earlier decree it replaced (presumably Decree 36/2008/ND-CP as amended) was not confirmed (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).

Sources

Sources checked: 2026-10-22