National Day Drone Show (Sept 2): Storyboard & Pricing 2026

A National Day drone show on September 2 has become a regular fixture in many Vietnamese localities, with storyboards built around the national flag, the gold star, the map of Vietnam and historical tableaux. Typical fleet sizes range from 300–500 drones for corporate and district-level events to 1,000 drones or more for provincial and city-level events. The hardest part is not the storyboard but the schedule: September 2 is the nationwide peak for flight permits, so organisers who confirm late often find neither equipment nor a suitable time slot available. Drone Xuân Air shares meaningful storyboard ideas, a fleet-size framework and the timeline milestones at which to start.

2. Drone Shows for National Day (September 2) in Vietnam

September 2 is the busiest time of the year for drone shows after the Lunar New Year (Tết), particularly since the major commemorations of 2025. This section reviews how shows have actually been deployed and explains why many localities are shifting from fireworks to drones.

2.1. September 2 drone performances in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Hanoi has included drone performances in its National Day celebration programme, with a series of activities in the West Lake (Hồ Tây) area combined with 3D mapping technology under the city's plan. Before that, the capital had also staged a 2,025-drone performance at West Lake to welcome the new year 2025, showing that there is precedent for organising at a scale of thousands of units. In the South, a 1,000-drone event organised by a business to mark the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2 also achieved very wide media reach. The peak in terms of scale remains the 10,500-drone performance in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30, 2025, a Guinness World Record, which set a new benchmark for national events.

2.2. Why many localities choose drones instead of fireworks

Three reasons why drone shows are increasingly prioritised for major holidays:

• Safe for crowds: no fire or explosion, no falling embers, suitable for central areas where tens of thousands of people gather

• Able to convey content: the national flag, the map of Vietnam and historical tableaux are images that only a drone show can recreate

• Creates long-lasting media assets: videos and photos from the show night serve the goal of promoting the locality's image all year round

A point to note: drone shows do not completely replace fireworks. Many localities choose a combined model, letting the drones tell the story and the fireworks accentuate the climactic moment.

3. A Meaningful Storyboard for a September 2 Drone Show

A September 2 storyboard differs from a commercial one in that the content must touch collective emotion, not merely create a visual impression. The three principles below determine whether the show creates a moment that leaves the audience in silent awe or stops at simply being beautiful to look at.

3.1. The national flag, the gold star and the map of Vietnam

This is the core trio of images, almost mandatory in every September 2 storyboard. The most effective sequence: open with a single gold star to create a focal point, transform it into the national flag flying with a rippling effect, then expand into the complete map of Vietnam. The map segment in particular needs to be handled carefully in terms of depiction, including the full Hoàng Sa (Paracel) and Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelagos; this is a detail the organising committee must always review thoroughly at the 3D simulation stage before programming.

3.2. Historical tableaux and the message of national pride

The middle section of the show is where the story is told. Commonly used tableaux include the image of President Hồ Chí Minh reading the Declaration of Independence, symbols of labour and production, the locality's signature imagery and, finally, symbols of modern development. An important principle: each show should tell only one single storyline, usually along a timeline from past to present. Cramming in too many disconnected messages leaves the audience no time to take them in and dilutes the climax.

3.3. Integrating sponsor logos appropriately

For privately sponsored September 2 events, sponsor logos need to appear but must not intrude on scenes that carry national symbolism. Three suitable positions: the opening scene before the main content begins, the transition scene between two chapters, and the closing scene together with the greeting message. Strictly avoid placing a logo immediately after, or overlapping, the images of the national flag and the map of Vietnam.

4. Fleet Size, Venue and Indicative Pricing

The drone fleet size for a September 2 event depends on the size of the audience and the radius of the area in which they stand. For outdoor community events, attendance often far exceeds the initial estimate, so it is better to choose a surplus rather than just enough.

4.1. 300–500 drones for corporate and district-level events

This is the most common segment: a business organising a commemorative programme for its staff and the local community, or a district organising a National Day celebration. With 300–500 drones, the formation is sufficient to render a sharp national flag, the map of Vietnam and 8–10 animated scenes, clearly visible within a radius of 1–2 km. Xuân Air's 400-drone show at Đại Nam, Bình Dương and its 500-drone show in Gia Lai both fall within this size category.

4.2. 1,000+ drones for provincial and city-level events

When the audience reaches tens of thousands of people spread across multiple streets, only a fleet of 1,000 drones or more ensures a clear view from every position. At this scale, the formation can build multi-layered tableaux, with smooth scene transitions and clear visibility extending to several kilometres.

In terms of cost levels, the market records a range from a few hundred million VND for a small-scale show to tens of billions of VND for a city-level event. Funding for September 2 events is usually raised through private sponsorship, with businesses sponsoring in exchange for the right to brand presence in appropriate scenes. See more: Xuân Air's drone show services.

4.3. Booking milestones and permit procedures during the peak period

This is the part that decides whether the event can take place at all. September 2 is the nationwide peak for flight permits, when numerous localities submit applications within the same narrow time window. Under Decree No. 288/2025/NĐ-CP, "the flight permit application must be submitted at least 07 days in advance; for flights affecting air routes or airports, it must be submitted 12 days in advance". The competent authority processes it within 05 working days. A provincial-level event additionally requires written approval from the locality for organising a mass-gathering event. In practice, the organising committee should start the entire process from June–July to secure both the equipment and the operating crew.

5. Frequently Asked Questions About September 2 Drone Shows

How far in advance should a September 2 drone show be booked?

A minimum of 6–8 weeks; starting from June–July is recommended. This is the nationwide peak for flight permits, so equipment, operating crews and application processing time are all tighter than usual.

How many drones are needed for a provincial-level National Day event?

From 500 to 1,000 drones, depending on the size of the audience and the width of the viewing area. District-level or corporate events usually need only 300–500 drones.

What images does a September 2 storyboard include?

The core trio is the gold star, the national flag and the map of Vietnam, combined with historical tableaux and local symbols. The map segment must fully depict the Hoàng Sa (Paracel) and Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, and is always reviewed by the organising committee at the 3D simulation stage.

Where can sponsor logos be placed?

In the opening scene, the transition scene between two chapters, or the closing scene. Do not place a logo overlapping or immediately after images of national symbols.

Does a September 2 event need any paperwork besides the flight permit?

Yes. In addition to the flight permit under Decree No. 288/2025/NĐ-CP, a mass-gathering event requires written approval from the local authorities, as well as coordination of the security and safety plan with the local police.

Where does the funding for a September 2 drone show come from?

The most common source is private sponsorship: businesses sponsor all or part of the cost in exchange for the right to brand presence in appropriate scenes. The organising committee can also combine this with the annual cultural events budget.

Should a drone show be combined with fireworks on September 2?

Yes, this is a model adopted by many localities: the drone show tells the historical story for 10–15 minutes, and the fireworks close with an emotional climax. The two elements complement each other rather than compete.

6. Xuân Air – Organising Drone Shows for National Day (September 2)

Xuân Air is a premium drone light show company headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, with direct experience of large-scale community events: 500 drones in Gia Lai to welcome the 2026 tourism season, 700 drones in Cần Thơ to welcome the new year 2025, and 400 drones at Đại Nam, Bình Dương for the 2026 Spring Festival. The Xuân Air team comprises in-house programming engineers, cultural storyboard specialists and an operating crew that has handled on-site work across many different terrain conditions. The entire flight permit application is handled in Xuân Air's own name; see also the portfolio of completed projects.

A successful September 2 drone show comes down to three things: a storyboard that tells one single storyline from past to present instead of cramming in many messages, choosing the fleet size according to the actual audience rather than the budget, and starting the procedures from June–July because this is the nationwide peak for permits. Xuân Air is ready to accompany organising committees in lighting up the sky on National Day.

Contact Xuân Air for a free storyboard consultation and quotation:

• Hotline: +84 969 045 871

• Email: trung@xuanair.com

• Website: xuanair.com/contact