The Ministry of Transport has just issued a document responding to the proposal of the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province on the policy of building a pilot project for flying taxis operating in the province.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Transport said it supports localities in general and Binh Dinh province in particular in researching to be able to deploy suitable, safe and secure means of transport, including flying taxis.
The implementation of these types of transport according to the Ministry of Transport is to facilitate people's travel and connect destinations, gradually forming advanced and modern means of transport, while contributing to building the image, creating highlights, and developing tourism activities in the locality.
However, according to the Ministry of Transport, the proposal of the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province on the pilot project of flying taxi only mentioned general information, did not have specific contents and did not have proposals related to the legal corridor, management mechanism, and implementation plan for implementation, so the Ministry of Transport did not have enough basis to consider and give opinions.
Besides, at the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly , the National Assembly discussed and passed the Law on People's Air Defense, effective from July 1, 2025.
Accordingly, the National Assembly discussed the concept of "unmanned aircraft" in the Law on People's Air Defense in the direction of ensuring appropriate, complete, and comprehensive regulations for other unmanned aircraft in the future such as flying taxis and flying motorbikes.
The Ministry of Transport believes that this will be the initial premise for forming a legal basis for managing and exploiting flying taxis.
Therefore, the Ministry of Transport requests the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province to continue to research and closely follow the process of drafting legal documents to implement the Law on People's Air Defense to supplement and specify issues related to the construction of the Project and report to request policies according to the authority of relevant ministries and branches.
Previously, at the end of October 2024, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province sent a document requesting the Ministry of Transport to review the report and recommend the Prime Minister to approve the Provincial People's Committee to develop a pilot project for flying taxis operating in the province. The document sent to the Ministry of Transport is about guiding the pilot operation of seaplanes at sea.
According to the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province, using seaplanes is more optimal than helicopters or ground planes in terms of take-off and landing areas, size characteristics as well as fuel capacity.
Currently, there is no suitable means of transport to fully explore the natural beauty of Binh Dinh province, as well as to help move between tourist destinations conveniently and quickly. Therefore, developing seaplane activities to serve tourism is a new breakthrough direction, creating a unique highlight for the province's tourism industry.
The People's Committee of Binh Dinh province requested the Ministry of Transport to provide specific instructions on seaplane models allowed to be used in Vietnam and procedures for registering and licensing the use of the M80 seaplane model to serve tourist transportation in Binh Dinh province.
Must design fixed flight paths, cannot fly "randomly"
Speaking to VietNamNet reporter, transport expert Nguyen Thien Tong supported Binh Dinh’s proposal. However, he noted that those flights must have fixed routes like buses, not fly “randomly”.
“The air taxi routes must be planned like the bus network on the road. It is an air highway, an air bus for each city. Passengers go to the flight points to choose the appropriate route for themselves.
With this type of transportation, I think it is suitable for cities like Hue or Quang Ninh that have deployed helicopter sightseeing services - this service is both expensive and not as safe as flying taxis," said Mr. Nguyen Thien Tong.
It is known that Vietnam does not have regulations on management and exploitation of business activities and transportation by flying taxi.
Research and implementation of flying taxis, as well as other means of transport, need a roadmap to ensure safety and sustainability with careful, scientific and strict steps.
Accordingly, it is necessary to evaluate and clarify issues directly related to the implementation process, such as: State management authority; transport subjects, business conditions; flight licensing authority; manufacturers, types of flying taxis, etc.
“These issues, during the research, evaluation and implementation process, need the opinions of relevant agencies, ministries and branches such as the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security…”, said the leader of the Ministry of Transport.
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