Vietnam Travel News: New Drone Permit Rules for Foreign Visitors, Effective September 15, 2026

For foreign drone users, the biggest Vietnam travel news to know is a hard deadline: from September 15, 2026, every visitor flying a drone over 250g in Vietnam must hold a temporary remote pilot certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) and a per-flight permit from vn-drone.gov.vn. The rule replaces the previous one-time registration system and applies to all non-Vietnamese drone operators flying in public spaces, including national parks, UNESCO sites, cities, and coastal areas. The timing is the first practical hurdle. Apply at least seven days before arrival because processing takes five business days. The permit fee is 700,000 VND (about $28) per drone per flight, or 2,000,000 VND for a month-long multi-location permit. The month-long option suits travelers filming in several places, from Ha Long Bay to Phong Nha, without re-applying for each flight. You also need proof of liability insurance with at least $50,000 coverage. The weight threshold is less clear than the fee. Drones under 250g, like the DJI Mini series, appear exempt from the temporary certificate and flight permit, but CAAV has not issued a definitive list of exempt models. Contact the nearest Vietnamese embassy before departure and ask about your specific drone model and weight. Do not rely on older forum posts or travel blogs that predate the September 15, 2026 change. The portal vn-drone.gov.vn is English-friendly but requires a Vietnamese phone number for verification. If you do not have one, use a hotel front desk phone or ask a travel agent to complete that step. Flying without the permit risks fines up to 15 million VND (about $600) and confiscation of equipment. Airport security already spot-checks drones at departure, so do not assume a quiet beach means no enforcement.

## Vietnam Travel News: Where the Drone Permit Rules Apply

From September 15, 2026, the new drone permit rules apply across every public space in Vietnam: Phong Nha and Ba Be national parks, UNESCO sites Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, and My Son, urban centers, and all coastal areas. This Vietnam travel news update closes the old one-time registration loophole for any drone over 250g. If your flight path crosses a beach, a city square, or a national park trailhead, you need the CAAV permit. Coastal areas are not exempt, even for a short flight over the water.

Some zones stay off limits. Flights remain banned above 45m near airports and military zones. The same ban applies during National Day celebrations in early September, specifically September 1–4, so plan aerial footage around that window. Schedule any flights before September 1 or after September 4 to avoid the National Day no-fly window. If you are near an airport or military facility, check the CAAV zone map before setting up.

Central districts of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are restricted without special permission from CAAV. Do not assume a hotel rooftop or riverside promenade counts as an exception; it does not. Treat those urban cores as no-fly zones unless you have written clearance before takeoff. If your accommodation is inside those central districts, ask the hotel whether the address falls in a restricted block.

Do not rely on quiet locations. Enforcement is expected to be inconsistent outside major tourist hubs, but airport security already spot-checks departing drones. A tourist flying in a rural commune may get no attention, then face a fine up to 15 million VND and confiscation if stopped on departure. Carry your permit paperwork with the drone and check CAAV's official site for updated zone maps before each flight.

## Vietnam Travel News: How to Apply for a Vietnam Drone Permit

Start at vn-drone.gov.vn and submit the application at least seven days before your arrival date. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) needs five business days to process a complete application, so do not plan to apply on arrival. This Vietnam travel news update affects any foreign visitor bringing a drone over 250g into Vietnam from September 15, 2026 onward.

The portal asks for three items: a clear passport photo page, your drone's serial number, and proof of liability insurance with a minimum $50,000 in coverage. The English-language interface works, but verification requires a Vietnamese phone number. If you do not have a local SIM, use your hotel's front desk number or ask a travel agent to receive the code for you. After uploading the documents, choose either the per-flight permit at 700,000 VND per drone per flight or the month-long multi-location permit at 2,000,000 VND.

Payment is the step most likely to break. The site accepts only Vietnamese bank cards or international cards routed through local payment gateways, and card-failure errors are common. Keep a second card available and submit early enough to retry the payment. If your card is rejected, ask the hotel or agent that provided the verification phone number to help with a domestic transfer.

If CAAV denies the application, do not fly without a permit. Fines reach up to 15 million VND (about $600), and Customs can confiscate the drone. Bring your drone to a licensed local operator instead; many tour companies now offer drone photography add-ons using their own valid permits, which keeps your gear legal and avoids airport spot checks on departing drones.

## Vietnam Travel News on Permit Fees and Processing Times

From September 15, 2026, foreign visitors flying drones over 250g in Vietnam must pay 700,000 VND (about $28) per drone per flight. That single-flight fee is per drone, not per group, so a two-drone kit costs 1,400,000 VND for one outing. Two separate flights with one drone also total 1,400,000 VND. Travelers planning multi-stop shoots in Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, or Hoi An should budget 2,000,000 VND for a month-long multi-location permit. This Vietnam travel news replaces the previous one-time registration under CAAV rules.

Processing takes five business days, so apply at least seven days before arrival. Submit through vn-drone.gov.vn with your passport, drone serial number, and proof of liability insurance showing a minimum $50,000 coverage. The seven-day rule creates a two-day buffer for weekends and portal delays. Incomplete documents may delay the five-business-day processing window. Missing that window means flying without a permit, and airport security already spot-checks departing drones.

Payment is where applications stall. The portal accepts only Vietnamese bank cards or international cards via local gateways, and expect card-failure issues. Keep a Vietnamese bank card, a travel agent, or a hotel front desk ready to complete the transaction. Portal verification also needs a Vietnamese phone number, so use a hotel phone or agent number. The English-friendly interface does not solve the local payment requirement.

Skipping the permit risks fines up to 15 million VND (about $600) and confiscation of your drone. If your permit is denied, bring the drone to a licensed local operator instead. Many tour companies now sell drone photography add-ons with their own permits, which sidesteps the payment and timeline hurdles. For the latest Vietnam travel news today and any emergency rule changes, check CAAV's official site or the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism before departure.

Vietnam Travel News: Penalties and Enforcement for Foreign Drone Users

The latest Vietnam travel news on drone rules is blunt: foreign visitors flying drones over 250g without the new temporary permit and remote pilot certificate face fines up to 15 million VND (about $600) and confiscation of equipment starting September 15, 2026. Airport security already spot-checks departing drones. Leaving with an unpermitted drone is risky even if you flew only in rural areas.

Enforcement is concentrated around transport hubs and restricted airspace. Flights remain banned above 45m near airports and military zones. The National Day celebrations on September 1-4 also close the skies for drones. Central districts of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are restricted without special permission. Outside major tourist hubs, enforcement may be inconsistent, but do not rely on that: a spot-check at the departure terminal can still end your trip with a heavy fine.

The penalty is not a warning. A tourist without a permit risks a fine up to 15 million VND (about $600) and confiscation of the drone. The fine is roughly $600, far more than the 700,000 VND per-flight permit, and confiscation adds another loss. This applies to all public spaces, including national parks, UNESCO sites, and coastal areas. If you are caught flying above 45m near an airport or military zone, the same confiscation risk applies, and you may also face additional charges under aviation law.

If your permit application is denied, do not fly anyway. Use a licensed local operator instead. Drones under 250g appear exempt, but CAAV has not issued a definitive list, so confirm with the nearest Vietnamese embassy before departure. Many tour companies now offer drone photography add-ons with their own permits already in place. You get the aerial shots without carrying the legal risk yourself.

Vietnam Travel News for Practical Drone Tips

Many tour companies in Vietnam now sell drone photography add-ons that include their own permits, so travelers who want aerial footage of Ha Long Bay or Hoi An can often skip the CAAV application if they book ahead. Ask the operator to show the permit before paying, because enforcement starts September 15, 2026 and unlicensed flights carry fines up to 15 million VND.

The vn-drone.gov.vn portal is English-friendly, but account verification still requires a Vietnamese phone number. Foreign visitors cannot complete this step with an international SIM, so use your hotel's phone or ask a travel agent to handle registration. Applying at least seven days before arrival leaves room for the five business day processing window.

CAAV has not published a definitive list of exempt drone models, but drones under 250g such as the DJI Mini series appear to fall outside the permit requirement. Do not rely on that assumption: contact the nearest Vietnamese embassy before departure for written confirmation, since airport security already spot-checks departing drones. Payment is another sticking point. The portal accepts only Vietnamese bank cards or international cards routed through local gateways, and card failures are common. If you plan to fly in several places over a month, the 2,000,000 VND multi-location permit is often cheaper than multiple per-flight fees.

For the latest changes, check the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam's official site or the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism. Rules are still settling in 2026, so what works for one traveler may not work for another. Recheck the portal a day before each flight, because local restrictions can shift during national holidays like September 1 to 4. A local licensed operator is the most reliable fallback if you cannot get a permit before your trip.