Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology granted Starlink's local unit a license to provide both fixed and mobile satellite internet services, including the use of radio frequencies. This approval follows a trial period announced last year and marks the formal entry of Elon Musk's company into the Southeast Asian market.

The regulatory nod arrives ahead of an expected visit by Vietnamese President To Lam to the United States for President Donald Trump's Board of Peace initiative. Simultaneously, Hanoi and Washington are engaged in negotiations for a bilateral trade deal after the U.S. imposed 20% tariffs on Vietnamese goods in August, with six rounds of talks concluded.

For SpaceX, Vietnam offers a substantial new market where terrestrial infrastructure is challenging in remote areas. The move expands Starlink's global footprint and provides a potential revenue stream. The timing also signals a deepening of U.S.-Vietnam technological and economic ties amid ongoing diplomatic engagement.