Editor's Note: A Chinese photography enthusiast has been ordered by Vietnam customs to pay 60 million Vietnamese dong (about $2,700) to get back his easy-to-fly photography drone. Liang Zhu was not aware that Vietnam is a no-drone-zone. In fact, many countries are not. Photography drones are floating into new legal territory, setting precedents on where unmanned aircrafts can fly and where they can't. The translated articles reports on instances of drone bans in China.

A young Chinese man was recently detained in Vietnam for bringing a photography drone into the country. Liang Zhu, from Wenzhou, is a young photography enthusiast. On February 12, Liang and his friends traveled to Vietnam, but he was detained upon entry for trying to bring a photography drone into the country. He may now face penalties or be prosecuted in Vietnam for “endangering homeland security.”

Drone Confiscated in Vietnam
Liang and his friends flew from Wenzhou to Nha Trang, Vietnam. He carried a small battery-powered photography drone. The drone was detected by Vietnamese customs. Customs officials stopped Liang and took him into their offices.

Customs staff questioned Liang, and told him that he had violated a regulation passed in 2008. His drone would be confiscated and he would be fined. Items with flight and aerial photography abilities are banned from entering Vietnam for security reasons.

Liang’s tour guide said that this was a large offense, and he would not be able to get his drone back. The fine would be relatively small, but Liang might be detained by the Vietnamese government on his way out of the country.

As of February 16, Liang and his friends are currently in Nha Trang. Although they are free to travel the city, they are not in the mood to enjoy their trip. Liang is supposed to fly back to Wenzhou on February 17 and has not been able to retrieve his drone. He also does not know if he will be fined or detained upon trying to exit Vietnam. Vietnam Customs has not replied to Liang’s queries, and the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam has contacted a lawyer to help him.

Liang said that before leaving for Vietnam he had checked drone-manufacturer DJI (Da-Jiang)’s forums to see if anyone had had trouble bringing a drone into Vietnam in the past. No one had written about customs issues in Vietnam in particular. DJI has however, released an official statement detailing different policies of customs in different countries when it comes to drones.

Getting Drones Through Customs
A drone photography enthusiastic surnamed Guan said that he had previously shot drone footage while abroad in India of the Ganges Bathing Festival. The footage was later reviewed by Indian security personnel and copied at customs. He and his group of friends had to undergo strict passport checks. Fortunately, he was eventually let through with both his drone and footage.

A Hangzhou Yunkong Technology Co. Ltd (YKTECH) general manager from Xinjiang said that he brought a photography drone from China to the United States to shoot footage without any issues. However, he was detained by Shanghai Customs upon his return to China.

Customs staff told him that low-altitude, small, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are not allowed to be brought into China. The only way Chinese can bring in photography drones or spy gear from abroad is to register and declare them before leaving China.

UAVs are now included on China’s “prohibited and restricted goods,” list for entry and exit, according to the General Administration of Customs. This list also includes weapons, drugs, and endangered animals and plants.

Global Restrictions
Aerial drone use is restricted in other countries as well. In France, only drones that can fly at heights between 50 and 150 meters are allowed. Illegal use of drones can results in a fine and a five year prison sentence. In the United States, UAVs are not allowed in cities and crowded tourist attractions like the Grand Canyon.

Travel agents advise not to bring aerial drones or UAVs while traveling abroad. Customs may suspect travelers with photography drones of stealing confidential information. Those with illegal drones may have their equipment confiscated and face heavy fines or even imprisonment.

Source: QQ News

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Keywords: drones China ban photography drones