How can a doctor examine patients aboard the ISS without ever leaving the ground? Find out at vietnamspaceweek.com (May 28 in Can Tho City and May 31 in Ho Chi Minh City).
More than 1,000 people have registered, a number that may exceed the hall’s capacity. A former NASA space shuttle commander, a doctor who was once “holoported” to the ISS, and leading space economy experts will gather in Vietnam at the end of May.
After the success of its first season in 2023, Vietnam Space Week 2026 returns with a larger scale, marking a strategic shift: not only to inspire scientific interest, but also, for the first time, to put the space economy – a global sector forecast to reach the trillion-dollar mark – at the center of dialogue in Vietnam.
Vietnam Space Week 2026 will take place in two cities – on May 28 in Can Tho City and May 31 in Ho Chi Minh City – under the theme “Fly Me to the Moon” and the message “The Sky Is No Longer the Limit.” According to the Organizing Committee, more than 1,000 people have registered for in-person attendance.
Notably, the program in Can Tho is organized under the direction of the Can Tho City People’s Committee, the Department of Education and Training, and other city departments and agencies – demonstrating the deep concern and support of Can Tho’s leadership for STEM education and the younger generation’s aspiration to conquer space.
Organizing Committee and partners ecosystem
Vietnam Space Week 2026 is co-organized by three units: Saigon Times Foundation, Innovation Services Center (ISC), and STEAMZone. Additionally, the event is accompanied by SAIGONBANK – Frontier Partner; Singapore Global Network – Visionary Partner; UEH – University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City – Strategic Partner; Rainscales, AI Coaching and DigiTEX – Mission Partners; along with two media partners, VNFOCUS Communication Corporation and The Saigon Times.
The presence of partners – from banking, education, technology to strategic consulting – accurately reflects the spirit of the event: the space economy is no longer just a story for space agencies alone.
“Heavyweight” speakers from NASA and multiple countries
The biggest highlight is the return of the international expert delegation that attended in 2023. Leading them is former NASA astronaut Michael A. Baker – who commanded four space shuttle missions, including STS-81 which docked with Russia’s Mir space station, part of the US-Russian cooperation program that paved the way for the International Space Station (ISS). He has logged a total of 965 hours working in space.
Joining him is Dr. Josef Schmid – an aerospace medicine physician, the first person to be “holoported” to the ISS as a real-time 3D hologram in 2021. The delegation also includes Ms. Margarita P. D. Baker – a senior Russian-English interpreter, long associated with NASA’s Johnson Space Center; Mr. Michael Koetsier – a space economy expert from the UK; Professor Kohno Kotaro – Director of the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Tokyo; and Dr. Nguyen Luong Quang – a Vietnamese astrophysicist based in France.
Each speaker brings a unique field and perspective from a different country – this is a rare opportunity for Vietnamese students, businesspeople, and the public to listen directly to the world’s leading voices on space.
Space economy: A real opportunity for Vietnam
According to experts, the majority of the value of the global space economy lies not in rockets or spacecraft, but downstream: satellite data, smart agriculture, logistics, Earth observation, and AI applications. In an exclusive interview with The Saigon Times Online, Mr. Michael Koetsier – Space Economy Specialist and Qualifications Scotland Specialist, and former Vice President at Skyrora (UK) – remarked: “Many countries used to think that to enter the space industry, they first needed a rocket. But the reality is different. The greatest value lies in data, services, and applications.”
Vietnam already has VINASAT, VNREDSat-1, MicroDragon, and NanoDragon satellites. But the real competitive advantage lies in AI manpower, software, and domestic demand for agricultural, climate, and resource data. This means: Vietnam can completely join the game without needing a launch pad.
For the first time, a Space Economy Dialogue session will take place within the framework of Vietnam Space Week 2026 on May 31, at UEH. The session brings together international experts to discuss investment opportunities, new business models, and Vietnam’s role in the global space value chain. On the same day, the Real Space Talk program with former NASA astronaut Michael A. Baker will offer an opportunity for direct interaction for thousands of students and the science-loving community.
In addition, 100 scholarships from the Saigon Times Foundation – Pham Phu Thu will be awarded to disadvantaged students in Can Tho, affirming social responsibility and the aspiration to spread STEM education to all regions.
“The Sky Is No Longer the Limit” – the message of this year’s program – might also be the message for Vietnam’s new position in the future space economy.
Two days, two cities, one journey reaching for the universe. Reaching the Moon begins with a single click – register now at vietnamspaceweek.com.
Morning: Real Space Talk – “Dream Big, Reach the Universe.” For the first time, students in the Mekong Delta will sit face-to-face with someone who has actually flown into space: former NASA astronaut Michael A. Baker. The program takes place in Vi Thanh Ward, under the direction of the Can Tho City People’s Committee and the Department of Education and Training.
All day: STEM Day @ ISC. A true technology festival: controlling robots and drones, experiencing AI and VR/AR, becoming an astronaut in a simulation chamber. The highlight is the startup competition “NoWaste Now – See Trash, See Startup,” where young people turn waste into business ideas.
MAY 31 – HO CHI MINH CITY (at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City – UEH)
Morning: Space Economy Dialogue. The first dialogue session of its kind in Vietnam dissects a trillion-dollar question: Where does Vietnam stand in the global space economy? Investment opportunities, new business models – everything is put on the table.
Afternoon: Real Space Talk – “Dream Big, Reach the Universe.” Cosmic inspiration returns to Ho Chi Minh City: former astronaut Michael A. Baker and international experts meet with students and the public.
Throughout the event: 100 scholarships from the Saigon Times Foundation – Pham Phu Thu are awarded to disadvantaged students in Can Tho – so that the dream of the universe does not leave anyone behind.
