Startup partners with mobile retailer to pilot drone delivery in Saigon Hi-Tech Park

The initiative is expected to help pave the way for new models of smart transport in the southern metropolis.

The deal is valid for three years and serves as a basis for their cooperation in implementing upcoming pilot activities, in line with Ho Chi Minh City’s orientation toward science and technology development and innovation.

At the signing ceremony, Tran Anh Tuan, Saolatek CEO, said that while large-scale commercial drone delivery still faces significant legal and technical hurdles, his firm and the partner believe UAVs will soon find effective applications.

He noted that delivery by drone could be particularly useful in such areas as public administration, transporting documents weighing between 0.5 and two kilograms, healthcare, emergency rescue, surveillance and surveying.

Saolatek is taking a step-by-step, tightly controlled approach to testing drones in urban environments, Tuan said.

The partnership is seen as an opportunity to generate real-world data and operational experience, which could support regulators in developing and refining a legal framework for civilian UAV use in the future.

A test flight conducted on Monday morning took place within the park under strict safety regulations, including a flight altitude of around 50 meters and an operating radius limited to 500 meters.

Saolatek engineers configured the delivery and receiving points on the system.

The drone immediately took off, completed a circuit, and accurately delivered the package to the designated location.

After the recipient collected the item, the drone automatically returned to its starting point.

The entire flight, delivery, and return processes were fully automated.

Nguyen Huu Yen, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, said that apart from the existing test zone at the park, the department is advising the city to designate two more areas for drone delivery trials.

The longer-term goal is to help Vietnamese enterprises master core technologies and reduce costs through mass production, thereby improving competitiveness against international products.

Embracing risk to innovate

Nguyen Ngoc Dat, general director of Di Dong Viet, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the idea was strongly inspired by a trip to the United States in June, where he observed delivery robots operating in major technology hubs.

He underlined that integrating UAVs into daily life is a strategic move over the next three to five years, aligning with Vietnam’s digital economy and green transition goals.

“In technology, you have to be ready to experiment and accept risks,” he said.

“We are not afraid of failure, for it is an inevitable path to reaching global standards."

Dat said that it is wasteful that couriers may spend hours delivering small items such as a single bowl of noodles or a cup of milk tea.

If drone delivery proves viable, it could significantly shorten delivery times while saving on labor and operating costs.

“Our customers are technology enthusiasts,” he said.

“Experiencing delivery by unmanned aircraft would be far more exciting and memorable."

Tuan also reflected on Saolatek’s challenging startup journey.

The company’s engineering team, largely made up of graduates from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, spent more than 15 years persevering through early failures.

Over time, Saolatek moved into manufacturing components such as motors, batteries, and cameras for export before officially restarting its specialized drone projects in early 2022.

What sets Saolatek apart is its focus on ‘drones for developers,’ allowing other organizations to integrate their own applications into existing UAV systems.

Beyond commercialization, Saolatek’s mission includes hands-on education, providing students and engineers with access to real equipment so they can develop practical skills and become a highly capable workforce for the growing technology market.