Vietnam’s collaboration with France in space technology has been significantly bolstered by the VNREDSat-1 satellite program, setting the stage for future advancements in next-generation satellites and technology transfer. The initiative, launched on May 7, 2013, marked Vietnam’s entry into Earth observation with its first satellite, which has impressively surpassed its initial five-year design lifespan, remaining operational into 2026, its 14th year in service. This program not only launched a satellite but also laid the groundwork for Vietnam to strengthen its domestic capabilities in satellite technology.
Through intensive training programs conducted in both France and Vietnam from 2011 to 2013, Vietnamese engineers gained crucial skills in system design, satellite operations, and troubleshooting. These engineers have since been able to independently manage technical issues, transitioning from reliance on transferred procedures to crafting their own solutions. Furthermore, Vietnam has developed a comprehensive remote-sensing system that handles imaging requests and satellite control, as well as data reception, processing, storage, and distribution. Since 2020, VNREDSat-1 has been a vital resource, providing nearly 30,000 satellite images for a wide range of applications, including environmental and natural-resource management, disaster monitoring, and socio-economic development.
Trần Hồng Thái, President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, emphasized the program’s role in building a technical and human-resource foundation for future satellite projects. However, he noted that achieving greater technological self-reliance would necessitate advancements in areas such as satellite design, payloads, electronics, and ground systems. This foundation is further strengthened by the recent phase of cooperation initiated during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Vietnam in May 2025. During this visit, a declaration of intent was signed between the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Airbus Defence and Space, and the French National Centre for Space Studies, aiming for long-term collaboration in space technology and Earth observation.
The current partnership focuses on developing a next-generation Earth observation system and exploring technological options for the proposed VNREDSat-2. Future efforts will likely emphasize greater Vietnamese involvement in mission planning, system design, subsystem development, and data applications. Areas such as control software, remote-sensing image processing, artificial intelligence, and ground systems present opportunities for Vietnam to enhance its domestic expertise further.
The overarching goal of this collaboration is to transition from purchasing satellite systems to co-developing and mastering the technology. By doing so, Vietnamese scientists and engineers will progressively gain the ability to design, operate, troubleshoot, and eventually develop future generations of satellite technology independently, marking a significant step forward in Vietnam’s space technology capabilities.