On October 16, local authorities and police in wards and communes bordering Danang International Airport and Chu Lai Airport began putting up signs prohibiting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), camera drones and ultralight aircraft. In Thanh Khe Ward in central Danang, officials surveyed seven locations for the signs.
Residents and tourists can scan the QR codes to check a list of prohibited activities, including flying kites, releasing balloons or sky lanterns, operating aircraft without permission or outside approved coordinates and limits, flying when the aircraft or operator does not meet required conditions, taking unauthorised aerial photographs or videos, and disobeying monitoring instructions.
Depending on the severity of the offence, operators can face administrative fines ranging from VND 2 million to VND 40 million. Those who obstruct air traffic and cause damage to people or property may also face criminal prosecution under Article 278 of the Criminal Code, with a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The tighter controls follow repeated aviation safety incidents at Danang International Airport. During the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, 83 arriving and departing flights were affected by unauthorised UAV incursions, according to local reports.
In response, Danang People’s Committee chairman Nguyen Manh Hung instructed the Department of Construction, the city’s military command and local authorities to review boundary markers and complete the installation of warning signs across the designated areas by October 20.
City police will lead the development of rapid-response procedures for UAVs entering approach and departure paths or approaching critical sites. They will also trace and deal strictly with offenders.
Alongside the warning zone, military personnel and local police are reviewing and compiling records of individuals and businesses that own, sell, repair or operate UAVs across the city. They are being asked to sign commitments not to enter restricted airspace and to comply with licensing procedures.
Retailers are also facing tighter checks on the origin of their equipment to prevent the sale of smuggled goods and ensure customers are informed about no-fly zones.
The city is stepping up multilingual awareness campaigns at accommodation providers and tourist attractions popular with international visitors. Anyone who spots a suspicious aircraft near an airport is urged to report it promptly to local police or the police unit at Danang International Airport’s border gate.
