Elon Musk reposts Starlink’s Vietnam arrival update on X

The original post was made on Thursday on platform X by blockchain expert Mario Nawfal, who said a Starlink hub is expected to be established in Vietnam.

Nawfal cited a Reuters report saying Musk's company, SpaceX, plans to set up 10–15 ground stations in the country, the first in Da Nang, and expects to start operating by May or June.

"SpaceX is sparking a real-deal shift and planting Vietnam on the satellite map!" Nawfal wrote.

Musk reposted the message Friday morning without further remarks.

A Reuters report published Tuesday, citing two sources familiar with the deal, said Starlink's satellite Internet rollout in Vietnam is underway following regulatory approval for a trial phase.

SpaceX is building the required ground stations in compliance with government guidelines, with the first estimated to cost around US$3 million.

Elon Musk at a White House cabinet meeting on Feb. 26, 2025. Photo by Reuters

If all 10–15 stations are indeed built, Vietnam could become one of Starlink’s largest markets in terms of infrastructure and coverage.

But the report said in Vietnam, where the Internet is more affordable than the Starlink service and only a small number of areas lack high-speed access, the company might be encouraged to offer additional services.

During a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung on Tuesday, Nguyen Thanh Chung, director of the Authority of Telecommunications, said the agency is working closely with SpaceX to finalize procedures for launching the service.

They include establishing a local legal entity and building a gateway station in Vietnam.

"They are preparing the necessary documents and equipment to bring to Vietnam," Chung said, adding that the process is expected to be completed within the year.

On March 23 the government granted SpaceX approval to trial Starlink in Vietnam under controlled conditions.

The trial has to be completed before Jan. 1, 2031. A maximum of 600,000 subscribers can be signed up and the project has to comply with national defense and security requirements.

All traffic generated by satellite users in Vietnam must be routed through the local gateway and connected to the country’s domestic telecom network. User data must also be stored in Vietnam, and service providers must comply with cybersecurity requirements, including preventing the spread of malware and harmful content.