According to statistics from the Vietnam Internet Network Information Center (VNNIC) under the Ministry of Information and Communications, out of more than 200,000 enterprises in Vietnam, only nearly 20,000 have registered third-level domains .com.vn.
This indicates that the majority of Vietnamese enterprises are still not keen on registering Internet domain names, even though this is one of the important tools that help businesses integrate internationally effectively.
A domain name is a name used to identify addresses on the Internet, registered by users to introduce organizations, enterprises, promote products, services, brands, and trade via the Internet. Domain names are usually based on the name of the enterprise, trademark, service, or product. For example, vinamilk.com.vn, vietcombank.com.vn, etc. are domain names closely associated with the enterprises’ brands.
Unlike trade names, which can be duplicated, a domain name is unique on the Internet. Registering a domain name on the Internet is similar to registering a trademark. VNNIC Deputy Director Le Nam Trung stated that the principle for registering a domain name is “first come, first served.” Therefore, it is inevitable that a domain name considered to belong to one company may end up in the hands of another if businesses do not proactively register domain names for themselves. In developed countries, due to a clear understanding of the value of domain names on the Internet, registering a domain name is an essential step when establishing a business. Internet domain names represent the trade name, brand, product, and services of organizations and enterprises online, thus holding significant importance for expanding business scope, finding partners, advertising products, and conducting e-commerce transactions.
In our country, due to an incomplete understanding of the important role of domain names, many Vietnamese enterprises discover that their desired domain names have already been registered when they attempt to register a new one. Cases like Trung Nguyen Coffee and Petrolimex are examples of this issue. Many individuals seize the opportunity to register attractive domain names associated with famous brands and reputable enterprises in the market, aiming to profit from the situation.
In 2005, VNNIC decided to revoke the domain name tide.com.vn, which was registered by a foreign individual due to attempting to sell the domain. Tide is a well-known laundry detergent brand in Vietnam owned by P&G. Previously, P&G had to spend a lot of time negotiating to reclaim this domain but could not reach an agreement. Ultimately, after VNNIC revoked the domain, P&G was able to register it again. This is just one of the few instances where a business successfully reclaimed its domain name. Many other enterprises have spent considerable time and resources on lawsuits or negotiations to recover their domain names, often without success.
According to Mr. Trung, while many domestic enterprises are still not fully aware of the .vn domain, foreign enterprises quickly register domain names upon entering the Vietnamese market. Compared to domestic businesses, foreign enterprises have a higher awareness and clearer objectives when registering domain names.
Recently, VNNIC has continued to provide second-level domains under the national domain name. The .vn domains help businesses assert their identity as Vietnamese entities to their partners. Furthermore, as a national Internet resource, .vn domains ensure safety and reliability, never being automatically transferred to another entity. Although these domains are short, memorable, and provide more options for Internet users, second-level domains still do not seem to attract significant interest from the Internet community. By the end of the first phase, VNNIC has only issued nearly a thousand domains.
Proactively registering Internet domain names is a way for businesses to protect their reputation, brand, and trademarks, especially as our country increasingly integrates internationally and e-commerce continues to develop robustly.
