Vietnam Eyes Global Models as It Charts Strategy for Space and Low-Altitude Economy Development

Vietnam is examining strategies from five major economies — the United States, China, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea — as it weighs developing space and low-altitude economies as new engines of growth, according to analysis from VnEconomy.

The US leads the global space economy, having shifted over the past two decades from government-funded programs toward commercial activity, with the government procuring services from private companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Planet Labs, and Maxar; the FAA is building regulatory frameworks for UAVs, beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations, and eVTOLs. China follows a state-led model combining national planning, public investment, and private mobilization across space infrastructure, manufacturing, and applications, with the low-altitude economy designated a national growth engine and local governments empowered to set up pilot zones.

The EU coordinates member states through shared programs including Galileo, Copernicus, EGNOS, and GOVSATCOM, funded via Horizon Europe, the European Innovation Council, and InvestEU, while its U-space program targets real-time UAV traffic management. Japan develops aerospace under its Basic Plan for Space Policy with JAXA central to research and technology transfer, building UAV testing zones and supporting infrastructure through long-term public investment and tax incentives. South Korea, a later entrant, has integrated national strategies across digital transformation, semiconductors, AI, defense, and aerospace, and views the low-altitude economy as a key growth sector after 2030.

Despite differing models, all five economies treat space and low-altitude sectors as strategic technology industries capable of generating new industries, raising labor productivity, optimizing supply chains, and expanding digital service markets.