HO CHI MINH CITY -- Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat drone incursions around airports after recent incidents disrupted flights and prompted a high-level government response, even as the country tries to build a "low-altitude economy." The issue gained urgency in August when two drone sightings in a single day disrupted 73 flights at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's busiest air hub. Some aircraft were forced to remain in holding patterns before making unscheduled landings, local media Tien Phong reported.

With authorities reporting similar violations around airports elsewhere in the country, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc last week convened agencies to coordinate a nationwide response, assigning ministries to develop counter-drone technologies, improve information sharing and strengthen enforcement.

Officials are employing equipment to detect and intercept drones, while warning that people who fly them in restricted areas can face prison sentences of up to 15 years.

The Ministry of Public Security has urged people to report those launching drones near airports and, if safe, photograph the operators and ask them to stop.

"A small flying device can affect multiple flights and threaten the safety of passengers," the ministry said in a statement. "Proactive prevention, compliance with regulations and timely reporting is the responsibility of each citizen." The problem is not limited to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's commercial hub. The government said drone violations have been recorded around airports in the capital Hanoi, Hai Phong, Binh Dinh, Thanh Hoa and Khanh Hoa, requiring police and other authorities to divert resources while causing delays for thousands of passengers.

Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), which operates most of the country's airports, said the incursions have "greatly affected take-off and landing activities, causing a chain reaction on the operation plan of flights." As part of the broader response, ACV recently conducted joint drills at Danang's airport with Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) to test responses to unauthorized drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Officials practiced using cameras and signal-jamming equipment, alerting flight crews, redirecting aircraft and coordinating with the military.

Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam Deputy Director Ho Minh Tan instructed the three companies to increase data sharing and coordination in handling drone-related risks, and to apply lessons from the exercises to Long Thanh airport, which is under construction near Ho Chi Minh City.

Aircraft operate at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Two drone sightings near the facility disrupted 73 flights in August, helping spur a nationwide government response.

VATM said the exercises highlighted the challenges of responding to drone incidents in Vietnam's crowded airspace.

"The mix of civil and military air traffic, constraints imposed by the layout of runways, rapidly changing weather conditions and complex terrain place great pressure on air traffic controllers, especially at peak periods," it said.

The tougher stance comes as Vietnam seeks to expand commercial drone use while addressing the safety risks posed by the technology's growing popularity.

State media estimate the drone industry could eventually be worth $10 billion. Ho Chi Minh City is testing drones for e-commerce deliveries and other logistics uses, while companies including military-run Viettel have entered the sector. Drones are also increasingly used in agriculture, logistics, tourism, real estate and filmmaking.

Authorities say the increasing use of drones has led to more incursions into restricted airspace and no-fly zones, disrupting flights and causing economic losses. In Danang alone, authorities estimated direct losses from such violations at 10 billion dong ($390,000), excluding indirect costs.