Vietnam’s VNREDSat-1 satellite programme has been a cornerstone for advancing space technology collaboration between Vietnam and France. This partnership, which began with the launch of VNREDSat-1 on May 7, 2013, is set to evolve with a focus on next-generation satellite systems, technology transfer, and enhanced domestic capabilities. Despite VNREDSat-1’s initial five-year lifespan, the satellite has impressively remained operational into 2026, marking 14 years of service since its handover in September 2013.
The initiative not only put Vietnam on the map with its first Earth observation satellite but also significantly boosted local expertise in satellite operations and technology. Between 2011 and 2013, Vietnamese engineers were trained both in France and domestically, gaining valuable skills in system design, operations, and troubleshooting. This training enabled engineers to independently address technical challenges, showcasing a transition from relying on transferred procedures to crafting their own solutions.
Moreover, Vietnam has developed a comprehensive remote-sensing system that manages imaging requests, satellite control, and data handling, including reception, processing, storage, and distribution. Since 2020, VNREDSat-1 has provided nearly 30,000 satellite images supporting environmental management, disaster monitoring, research, socio-economic development, and national security efforts. According to Trần Hồng Thái, President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the programme has established a crucial foundation for future satellite projects, although he emphasized the need for further advancements in satellite design, payloads, and related technologies to achieve greater technological self-reliance.
A new chapter in this bilateral cooperation began during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Vietnam in May 2025. During this visit, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Airbus Defence and Space, and the French National Centre for Space Studies signed a declaration of intent for long-term collaboration in space technology and Earth observation. This agreement aims to explore a next-generation Earth observation system and consider technological options for a proposed VNREDSat-2.
Anticipated future collaborations will likely prioritize Vietnamese involvement in mission planning, system design, and subsystem development. Emphasizing areas such as control software, remote-sensing image processing, artificial intelligence, ground systems, and selected sensors and payloads, the goal is to build Vietnam’s domestic expertise. The overarching objective is to transition from merely purchasing satellite systems to co-developing and mastering the technology, enabling Vietnamese scientists and engineers to design, operate, troubleshoot, and eventually develop future satellite technology independently.