Vietnam and France Enter a New Era in Space Technology Cooperation
Relations between Vietnam and France in the field of space technology are expanding through new generation satellites and technology transfer, building upon the successes of the VNREDSat-1 program.
Prof. Dr. Tran Hong Thai, President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, announced that space technology cooperation between the two countries began with VNREDSat-1 and is evolving into a new stage with next-generation satellite systems and training activities.
Success of the VNREDSat-1 Program
VNREDSat-1, Vietnam's first Earth observation satellite, was successfully launched on May 7, 2013, and handed over for operation in September of the same year.
Although its design lifespan was five years, the satellite has proven its operational durability by continuing to provide data as it entered its 14th year of operation in 2026.
Training of Domestic Engineers
Thanks to the cooperation carried out between the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and Astrium between 2011 and 2013, comprehensive training was provided to Vietnamese engineers.
As a result of the technology transfer and intensive courses, the domestic technical team has become capable of managing the satellite system and ground station completely independently.
High-Level Visit and New Declaration of Intent
An important step was taken during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit on May 25-27, 2025.
A Declaration of Intent aimed at long-term cooperation was signed between the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Airbus Defence and Space, and the French Space Agency.
Future-Oriented Joint Projects
With this signed declaration, the parties are exploring the possibility of developing a next-generation Earth observation system by utilizing advanced technologies in the CO3D program.
Cooperation between the two countries continues to be developed through projects such as VNREDSat-2, which will be built upon this strong infrastructure provided by VNREDSat-1.