Vietnam Steps Up With France, China And More In Lifting Tourism Through New Flying Taxis And An Ambitious “Low-Altitude Economy”

Vietnam, France, and China have entered into a paradigm of futuristic flying taxi economics that would revolutionize global tourism. A vision of a futuristic city where flying cars silently and electrically carry passengers over gridlocked roads is no longer the stuff of science fiction. All over the globe, countries are actively exploring what is currently referred to as the “low-altitude economy.” This new economic paradigm is one that utilizes the airspace at an altitude of hundreds of meters from the ground for business, logistics, and most important of all, tourism purposes. With the resurgence and transformation of global tourism, countries are always on the lookout for the next big difference.

In a remarkable move that signals its intent to be a leader in Southeast Asian technological adoption, Vietnam has officially stepped into this airspace race. Driven by a bold proposal from Gia Lai province, the country is preparing to integrate electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles—commonly known as flying taxis—into its tourism infrastructure. But Vietnam is not flying solo in this endeavor. It joins a prestigious, fast-moving cohort of nations including France, China, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, all of whom are rewriting the rules of tourism through aerial innovation.

This comprehensive deep dive explores how Vietnam’s latest proposal fits into the global puzzle, the specific details of their 2028 roadmap, and how nations worldwide are weaponizing the low-altitude economy to revolutionize the global tourism industry.

Vietnam’s Bold Leap: The Quy Nhon – Phu Cat Pilot Program

Vietnam’s foray into the low-altitude economy is anchored by a highly detailed, strategically located pilot program. Gia Lai province recently submitted a formal proposal to the Prime Minister to pilot unmanned flying taxis. Rather than testing these vehicles in the heavily congested airspaces of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, the government has astutely chosen the Quy Nhon – Phu Cat area.

This region, which merges the jurisdictions of Gia Lai and Binh Dinh provinces, offers a unique topographical advantage. By connecting the high-altitude plateau with the sweeping coastlines of the central region, the pilot program creates an immediate, highly attractive use case for tourism.

The Phased Roadmap to 2028

The implementation of this project is meticulously planned, prioritizing safety and regulatory compliance over sheer speed. The project spans from late 2026 to the end of 2028, divided into three critical stages:

1. Preparation and Evaluation (Present – October 2026): This ongoing phase involves establishing the legal framework, assessing infrastructural needs, and finalizing partnerships. The Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee is working closely with the Vietnam Aviation Academy to ensure aeronautical standards are met.
2. Test Flights (November 2026 – January 2027): This crucial window will see the deployment of 1 to 2 eVTOL vehicles. Initial flights will be strictly unloaded to verify automated control systems, battery reliability, and emergency protocols. Upon successful completion, the vehicles will carry technical and aviation experts for loaded stress tests.
3. Passenger Pilot (February 2027 – December 2028): The final phase introduces limited passenger transport. This stage will operate under severe restrictions regarding flight times, weather conditions, and passenger demographics, serving as a comprehensive data-gathering period before any commercial rollout is authorized.

Proposed Routes and Infrastructure

To facilitate this pilot, four dedicated “vertiports” (takeoff and landing zones) will be constructed at the Children’s Park, Quy Nhon Marina, Phu Cat Airport, and the Blooming Sky Grand Music Festival Center. These nodes will connect two distinct flight paths:

Strict Safety and Funding Mechanisms

The Vietnamese authorities have made it unequivocally clear that safety is the paramount metric for success. Flying taxis operate in a complex three-dimensional space, requiring strict coordination with existing civil aviation—particularly on the Phu Cat Airport route. The flight corridors are deliberately mapped over water bodies and low-density population zones to mitigate ground-risk in the event of an emergency. Furthermore, the unmanned drone systems must feature military-grade cybersecurity to prevent hacking, signal jamming, or data breaches.

Financially, the project operates on a hybrid model. The state budget will fund public management, independent safety assessments, and pilot infrastructure. Meanwhile, private enterprise partners are responsible for procuring the aircraft, hiring operating personnel, maintaining the fleets, and securing comprehensive liability insurance.

By executing this pilot, Vietnam aims to position Quy Nhon not just as a coastal retreat, but as a premium, tech-forward destination, seamlessly blending the natural beauty of the plateau-to-coast terrain with cutting-edge travel experiences.

The Global Vanguard: How Other Nations Are Capitalizing on Aerial Tourism

Vietnam’s ambitious plan is part of a much larger global movement. Governments and tourism boards across Europe, Asia, and North America have recognized that flying taxis offer more than just a reduction in carbon emissions and traffic congestion—they offer an entirely new way to experience a destination.

Here is a detailed look at how other major players are utilizing the low-altitude economy to boost their tourism sectors.

China: Pioneering Autonomous Aerial Sightseeing

China is arguably the global leader in the mass commercialization of the low-altitude economy, largely propelled by domestic manufacturers like EHang. The Chinese Civil Aviation Authority has already granted design, manufacturing, and operational certifications to autonomous passenger drones.

• The Tourism Strategy: Rather than focusing solely on point-to-point business commuting, China is deploying flying taxis in highly scenic, culturally significant areas. Fleets are being integrated into cities like Guangzhou and Hefei specifically for aerial sightseeing.
• The Experience: Tourists can board fully autonomous eVTOLs to take low-altitude tours over lakes, mountains, and sprawling urban parks. By removing the pilot, the entire cabin becomes an immersive, panoramic viewing deck, turning a simple transportation method into a highly marketable tourist attraction.

United Arab Emirates (Dubai): The Ultimate Luxury Transit

Dubai has built its tourism brand on futuristic luxury and architectural grandeur, making it the perfect incubator for flying taxis. Partnering with American firm Joby Aviation, Dubai is targeting an early 2026 launch for its aerial network.

• The Tourism Strategy: Dubai’s network is designed to cater to high-net-worth individuals and premium tourists. The vertiports are strategically placed at the most lucrative tourist nodes: Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, and Dubai International Airport.
• The Experience: A journey from the airport to the Palm Jumeirah, which can take 45 minutes in heavy ground traffic, is reduced to a serene 10-12 minute flight. Tourists get a breathtaking, low-noise aerial view of the Burj Khalifa and the artificial archipelagoes, starting their vacation with an unforgettable, VIP experience before they even reach their hotel.

France (Paris): Sustainable Exploration of Historic Sites

Europe approaches the low-altitude economy with a heavy emphasis on sustainability, noise reduction, and the preservation of historic architecture. Paris, working closely with Volocopter, utilized the momentum of the 2024 Olympics to accelerate its urban air mobility plans.

• The Tourism Strategy: Paris aims to connect major transit hubs like Charles de Gaulle Airport directly to the city center and key tourist districts.
• The Experience: Traditional helicopters are noisy, heavily polluting, and often restricted from flying low over historic European cities. eVTOLs solve this problem. They offer tourists a completely emission-free, whisper-quiet flight over the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, and centuries-old boulevards, providing spectacular views without disturbing the residents or degrading the historical ambiance of the city below.

Singapore: The Living Laboratory of the Sky

Singapore’s tourism model relies heavily on its reputation as a pristine, hyper-modern garden city. As a dense island nation, expanding ground infrastructure is incredibly difficult, making the low-altitude economy a vital necessity.

• The Tourism Strategy: Singapore is treating its airspace as a “living laboratory,” testing AAM technologies over highly trafficked tourist areas like Marina Bay.
• The Experience: The goal is to offer emotionally compelling, sensory-rich aerial tours. Tourists will be able to fly silently over the Supertrees of Gardens by the Bay and the dramatic coastline. For Singapore, the flying taxi is a statement piece—a way to prove to international visitors that they are standing in the most technologically advanced city on Earth.

United States (New York & Los Angeles): Bypassing the Gridlock

In the United States, the primary driver for flying taxis is the sheer scale of urban gridlock. Cities like New York and Los Angeles are massive tourist hubs that suffer from notoriously difficult airport transfers.

• The Tourism Strategy: In New York, operators are focusing on the crucial Manhattan-to-JFK corridor. In Los Angeles, the focus is broader, aiming to replace the lucrative but environmentally taxing helicopter tour industry.
• The Experience: For a tourist arriving in New York, a grueling hour-long cab ride from JFK to Manhattan is transformed into a swift 7-minute flight over the skyline. In Los Angeles, visitors will be able to take emission-free flights over the Hollywood Sign, Malibu coastlines, and Santa Monica, enjoying the glamour of an aerial tour without the guilt of massive carbon output. Industry experts project the U.S. aerial tourism market could reach $5 billion by 2030.

Japan: Showcasing Innovation at the 2025 World Expo

Japan has a long history of utilizing major international events to debut revolutionary transport technology (most notably the Shinkansen bullet train during the 1964 Olympics). They are repeating this strategy with Advanced Air Mobility.

• The Tourism Strategy: The Japanese government and private sector are heavily targeting the 2025 World Expo in Osaka as the grand unveiling of their flying taxi networks.
• The Experience: Beyond urban transit in Osaka, Japan has conducted test flights in highly scenic areas, including routes offering views of Mount Fuji. By integrating these vehicles into their broader tourism ecosystem, Japan aims to offer visitors a seamless, futuristic journey from their ultra-fast ground trains directly into the sky.

South Korea: The K-UAM Grand Challenge

South Korea’s approach to the low-altitude economy is highly centralized and meticulously planned through a government initiative known as the K-UAM (Korean Urban Air Mobility) Grand Challenge.

• The Tourism Strategy: Seoul is one of the most densely populated cities on the planet. The tourism strategy revolves around connecting the sprawling capital with surrounding tourist hubs and business districts, making the entire region more accessible to international visitors.
• The Experience: South Korea is testing integration that will allow tourists to book a flying taxi directly through existing ride-hailing apps. The focus is on frictionless travel—allowing a tourist to leave their hotel in central Seoul and arrive at a remote mountain resort or coastal town in a fraction of the traditional travel time, enjoying a futuristic aerial panorama along the way.

A New Era of Travel

The global transition toward a low-altitude economy represents the most significant shift in commercial transport since the advent of the jet age. For the tourism industry, the implications are staggering. Travel is no longer just about the destination; the journey itself is being repackaged as a premium, sustainable, and highly memorable attraction.

Vietnam’s strategic entry into this space with the Quy Nhon – Phu Cat pilot program demonstrates remarkable foresight. By committing to a rigorous, safety-first roadmap stretching to 2028, Vietnam is ensuring that when its airspace opens to tourists, it does so with world-class reliability.

Vietnam, France, and China are at the forefront of this innovative low-altitude economy, introducing flying taxis in order to change the future of worldwide tourism.

With China expanding its autonomous sightseeing aircrafts, Dubai providing services to the most luxurious travelers, and Paris and Los Angeles pursuing the development of silent green flying tours, it is clear that the sky is the ultimate horizon for tourism innovation. The low-altitude economy is not just an idea; it is a rapidly developing reality.

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