Vietnam’s VNREDSat-1 satellite program, launched on May 7, 2013, has established a significant groundwork for enhanced collaboration with France in the field of space technology. The initiative is set to evolve by focusing on next-generation satellites, technology transfer, and bolstering domestic capabilities. Although the satellite was initially designed to last five years, it remains operational in 2026, marking an impressive 14 years of service since it was officially handed over in September 2013.
Beyond mere satellite operations, the program has expanded Vietnam’s expertise, with Vietnamese engineers undergoing intensive training in both France and Vietnam from 2011 to 2013. This training encompassed system design, satellite operations, and troubleshooting skills. Over time, these engineers have transitioned from relying on transferred procedures to independently addressing technical issues, showcasing a significant leap in capability.
The nation has also developed a comprehensive remote-sensing system, which integrates imaging requests, satellite control, data reception, processing, storage, and distribution. Since 2020, VNREDSat-1 has delivered nearly 30,000 satellite images, which have been crucial for environmental and natural-resource management, disaster monitoring, scientific research, as well as socio-economic and defense-related activities.
According to Trần Hồng Thái, President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the satellite program has laid a crucial technical and human-resource foundation for future projects. However, Thái emphasized that achieving greater technological self-reliance necessitates advancements in satellite design, payloads, electronics, flight software, and ground systems, among other areas. A new phase of cooperation was marked by the signing of a declaration of intent during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Vietnam in May 2025, involving the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Airbus Defence and Space, and the French National Centre for Space Studies.
The focus of future collaboration will be on increasing Vietnamese involvement in mission planning, system design, subsystem development, software, testing, and data applications. This shift provides opportunities for Vietnam to enhance its domestic expertise, particularly in control software, remote-sensing image processing, artificial intelligence, ground systems, and sensor and payload development. The overarching goal is to transition from purchasing satellite systems to co-developing and mastering the technology, enabling Vietnamese scientists and engineers to independently design, operate, troubleshoot, and eventually develop successive generations of satellite technology.