Vietnam Post has for the first time sent parcels "flying over the sea" using an unmanned drone.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, Vietnam Post Corporation, and CT UAV Joint Stock Company officially announced the deployment of a postal delivery route using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) connecting Can Gio commune and Vung Tau ward (Ho Chi Minh City). This is considered a pioneering step in applying smart transportation solutions, contributing to improving the digital economy index and reducing pressure on the city's road transport infrastructure.

Delegates performed the ceremony to inaugurate the Can Gio - Vung Tau delivery route using UAVs.

The event was organized with close coordination from many units including the Ho Chi Minh City Command, the Regional Defense Command 1, the 370th Air Force Division, local authorities, specialized agencies, and businesses, demonstrating an effective cooperation model between state management agencies, specialized forces, technology engineers, and postal enterprises in applying science and technology to practice.

In this project, Vietnam Post is the lead unit responsible for developing operational procedures, establishing quality standards, and organizing the operation of goods delivery and pickup using UAVs. The flight route is designed to cross the sea, connecting the takeoff point at the Can Gio ferry terminal and the landing point at the Vung Tau sea ferry terminal, marking the first time postal transportation using unmanned aerial vehicles has been deployed on this unique transportation corridor.

A close-up view of the UAVs used in the Can Gio - Vung Tau delivery route.

In the initial phase, Vietnam Post prioritizes transporting small parcels under 5kg, including documents, files, and e-commerce packages.

The UAVs used include specialized aircraft such as the CT-HV-25D-6, CT-HV-12D-4, and modern vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones. Each drone is equipped with a flight monitoring camera and an intelligent autonomous system, suitable for transporting parcels, essential supplies, pharmaceuticals, and documents under various operating conditions.

The flight parameters were meticulously calculated: a maximum altitude of 200 meters, a flight corridor width of 300 meters, and an operating radius of 500 meters in the take-off/landing area, ensuring aviation safety, airspace/ground security, and civilian activities.

The Can Gio - Vung Tau postal delivery route using UAVs is expected to significantly shorten delivery times between these two geographically unique areas, offering customers more options for fast and convenient delivery. At the same time, it will contribute to increasing service capacity in case of traffic disruptions, effectively supporting the transportation of essential goods when needed.

The project also serves as a controlled pilot model, providing regulatory agencies with more practical data to gradually refine policies for developing smart logistics and low-cost economy .

A close-up view of the UAVs used in the Can Gio - Vung Tau delivery route.

Mr. Nguyen Nhu Thuan, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Post Office , stated: Participating in the pilot program for the Can Gio - Vung Tau sea flight route aims to standardize a new postal service model based on an end-to-end chain. The entire process, from receiving, packaging, scanning, handing over for flight operations, monitoring the flight path, landing, delivery, customer care, and reconciliation, is integrated seamlessly into the existing logistics system, providing customers with a "one code - one journey" experience. In this process, UAVs are incorporated into the operational chain as a supplementary method to ensure compliance with national postal service standards.

Vietnam Post identifies safety and legal compliance as prerequisites, implementing pilot programs in a systematic and controlled manner, using actual operational data as a basis for evaluation, refining the model, and gradually expanding its application within the logistics ecosystem for low-income economies, especially in areas with unique geographical conditions, remote areas, and rural areas.

Sharing their long-term vision, the Organizing Committee representative emphasized: "The program's goal is not just to build a flight route, but also to build confidence in how technology can serve life safely, efficiently, and sustainably."

In the future, the technical foundation and experience from the Can Gio - Vung Tau route can be leveraged to serve many other areas such as search and rescue, supporting the management work of state agencies, and providing medical support to remote and rural areas.”

The UAV took off from the Can Gio ferry terminal.

Introducing UAVs into logistics operations is not only a technological advancement but also demonstrates Ho Chi Minh City's efforts to promote an innovation ecosystem, opening opportunities for domestic technology companies to participate more deeply in the research, production, and operation of modern unmanned aerial vehicles, gradually mastering unmanned aviation technology.

The inauguration of the postal transport route using UAVs connecting Can Gio and Vung Tau is a testament to the effective coordination between the "three parties": the State, scientists, and businesses. It also affirms the creative capacity and technological mastery of the domestic workforce, contributing to building a foundation for a green, smart, and flexible logistics system, meeting the requirements of sustainable development in the digital age.

UAVs are suitable for transporting small packages.

UAV-based postal delivery services on the Can Gio - Vung Tau route will serve as an important basis for management agencies to assess the potential for expanding the model to more specialized applications such as emergency medical transport, disaster response support, or smart city management.

Based on the results obtained, the city aims to build a green, smart, and flexible logistics network that meets the requirements of sustainable development in the digital age. Through this event, the parties expect to gradually form the foundation for low-altitude aerial transportation infrastructure, thereby more effectively supporting the logistics, postal, and some public service ecosystems in the future.

Delegates attending the opening ceremony.

Following the inauguration ceremony, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology will act as the central coordinating body, working in conjunction with the City Command to monitor daily operations. On the business side, Vietnam Post will gradually integrate the UAV solution into its existing delivery processes, providing periodic reports on efficiency in terms of time, cost, and service quality, thereby refining the operational model and laying the foundation for expansion.

Previously, Vietnam Post had piloted medical transport using UAVs and is continuing to expand cargo transport, especially through specialized coastal and island routes, while adhering to legal regulations and ensuring safe and efficient operations.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/buu-dien-viet-nam-lan-dau-dua-buu-kien-bay-qua-bien-bang-thiet-khong-nguoi-lai-197260215130431219.htm