6. Vietnam: An Ambitious Satellite Development Program

For the past 30 years, the development and utilisation of satellite technology have provided a valuable contribution to the socio-economic development of Vietnam, leading the country towards modernisation and security. However, space applications in Vietnam are still scattered, suffering from a lack of coordination between governmental ministries and departments. Taking into account the complexities of the local situation, this chapter provides a comprehensive factual history of space technology development and utilisation programs in Vietnam, from the late 1970s up to now. After an initial close partnership with the Soviet Union, Vietnam has developed an ambitious domestic space development program. After presenting this program’s history, with a focus on satellite development, the chapter emphasises the current state of satellite technology applications in the country. Finally, it concludes with a very extensive and thorough analysis of the current shortcomings of the Vietnamese situation and a detailed overview of the national space strategic orientations for 2030, released in early 2021.