Following the application of increased customs tariffs on products imported into the United States by the Trump administration, Vietnam took this decision as compensation for the surplus of 124 billion USD in the trade balance with the United States.

This decision follows negotiations between Vietnam and SpaceX and marks an important shift in Vietnam’s policy towards foreign investment in satellite internet services. Previous SpaceX’s efforts to enter Vietnam had been stalled in late 2023 due to a ban on foreign control on telecom infrastructure. With plans for a $1.5 billion investment in Vietnam, SpaceX has been expanding its supplier network in the country.

Vietnam is known for being a country where Internet control is applied to social networks Facebook, X and sites deemed hostile to the government.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/vietnam-paves-way-musks-starlink-seen-olive-branch-amid-us-tariff-threats-2025-02-18/