Ho Chi Minh City Announces 63 Units in Drone No-Fly Zone, Steps Up Public Awareness and Enforcement
Why It MattersTighter local enforcement and mandatory user commitments raise compliance costs for drone sellers, renters and media operators in Vietnam's largest city, and signal firmer control of low-altitude airspace near major airports.
Ho Chi Minh City has issued a plan to strengthen public awareness and enforcement on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and other flying objects, focusing on 63 commune-level units that fall within the no-fly zone. The Ho Chi Minh City Police had earlier published the list of 63 wards, communes and special zones and warned residents against illegally using flycams, drones, kites and other flying objects.
The awareness campaign targets residents of residential areas and high-rise apartment buildings; businesses in media, advertising, event organization, photography and filmmaking; establishments that buy, distribute, repair and rent drones; and clubs and groups using remote-controlled drones. The content covers UAV registration rules, flight-permit application procedures, the licensing authority of military agencies, and penalties for violations. The city also requires public disclosure of no-fly and restricted flight areas at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Con Dao Airport and other key targets.
Local authorities are to compile statistics on businesses, organizations and individuals owning drones and encourage their declaration and registration. Commune-level People's Committees are to have 100% of businesses and UAV users in their areas sign commitments to comply with the law. The City Police Department is the focal point for monitoring, guiding, inspecting and urging implementation, while commune-level police take the lead in compiling lists of users and organizing the signing of commitments. The city police, together with the Department of Culture and Sports and the Department of Science and Technology, are also reviewing and handling online advertising and sale of smuggled drones and online instruction on illegally manufacturing drones. The Ho Chi Minh City Command coordinates airspace management, provides the boundaries and coordinates of no-fly and restricted airspace, and deploys forces and technical equipment to detect and suppress violating aircraft.
From August 27 to September 2, police detected 122 violations of flight regulations, issued citations and confiscated numerous UAVs and flying objects, using digital technology combined with on-site patrols. On August 28, the Security Investigation Agency of the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department opened a criminal case, indicted and temporarily detained Than Van Tan on charges of "obstructing air traffic".
