Vietnam has officially acceded to the Artemis Accords on the sidelines of the Vietnam International Digital Week 2026 in Quang Ninh City, marking a major milestone in the country’s international cooperation on the peaceful exploration and utilization of outer space.
The accession ceremony took place on October 28, where Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan represented Vietnam in receiving the accession document from US Ambassador to Vietnam Jennifer Wicks McNamara.
The Artemis Accords establish a common set of principles for cooperation in the civil exploration and use of the Moon, Mars, Comets, and Asteroids for peaceful purposes.
Grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 (OST), the Artemis Accords are a non-binding set of principles designed to guide civil space exploration and use in the 21st century.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Quan emphasized that Vietnam views space science and technology as a critical domain that bolsters national science and technology capabilities while driving sustainable socioeconomic development.
"Vietnam looks forward to working alongside fellow signatory nations to foster the peaceful, safe, equitable, transparent, and sustainable exploration and use of outer space in accordance with international law, thereby delivering tangible benefits to humankind and planet Earth," said Mr. Quan.
According to the minister, Vietnam’s immediate priorities include enhancing national autonomy in space technology and geospatial data management, as well as advancing satellite-derived applications for natural resource oversight, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk management. Concurrently, Vietnam aims to progressively build a domestic space economy ecosystem and strengthen governance frameworks for national space operations.
The Artemis Accords currently bring together over 60 member nations, encompassing leading spacefaring countries—including Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, South Korea, Australia, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates—alongside a growing cohort of emerging space nations.
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