Vietnam and International Domain Registration Service

This article is a comprehensive guide to domain names, helping readers understand the concept, classification, and importance of domain names in the digital age. This analysis will guide in detail from how to choose a professional domain name, simple registration steps, compare costs and reputable providers, to how to manage and use domain names effectively. After reading, readers will have enough knowledge to make the right decision for their personal or business website.

What is a domain name and why do we need one?

What is a domain name?

A domain name, also known as a Domain Name, is a unique identifier for a website on the internet. It serves as a string of characters used to identify a specific scope of management, autonomy, or control on the World Wide Web. 2 Simply put, a domain name is like a home address or postal code of a website on the internet. Instead of having to remember and enter a complex, difficult-to-remember IP number series (for example: 100.50.40.30) into the browser, users only need to type an easy-to-remember text string like example.com to access the website.

Structurally, a domain name usually consists of two main components:

• Name: Is the string of characters that the user types into the browser's address bar. This name can include letters from a-z, numbers from 0-9 and hyphens (-). The length of the domain name cannot exceed 63 characters, including the extension.

• Extension (Tail): Starts with a dot ( . ) and is the end of the domain name, for example .com , .vn , .org .

A domain name cannot contain spaces or other special characters, and cannot begin or end with a hyphen. The general rule when choosing a domain name is to keep it short, simple, and memorable.

Domain names and hosting: Differences and relationships

One of the most common confusions for beginners is the difference between domain names and hosting. Although they are two separate services, they are closely related and together make up a complete website.

• Domain Name: This is the address where people can find your website. It is simply an “identifier” to help guide them.

• Hosting: This is the actual “home” of your website, where all the files, images, videos, and data needed to make your website work are stored. This hosting service provides space on a server and ensures that your files are always available on the internet.

Domain names and hosting work in a synchronized mechanism. When a user types a domain name into a browser, the browser sends a request to determine the IP address of the corresponding hosting server. Once found, the server sends the website files back to the user’s browser to display the website. Therefore, a website cannot function without either of these two elements.

The Importance of Domain Names in the Digital Age

In the online business environment, a domain name is more than just an address. It is considered a valuable digital brand asset. Domain names help organizations and businesses affirm their professionalism, build brand recognition and promote the image of products and services on the internet.

One of the core features of a domain name is its uniqueness. Each domain name belongs to only one owner and is allocated on a “first come, first served” basis. This emphasizes the importance of registering a domain name early to protect your brand and prevent it from being taken over by others.

Classification and structure of popular domain names

Domain names are classified based on their purpose and geographical area. Understanding the types of domain names will help you make the most appropriate choice for your project.

National domain name (.vn) and international domain name

• International domain names (gTLDs - Generic Top-Level Domains): These are domain name extensions that are widely used globally, without country restrictions. The most popular are .com (for commercial organizations), .net (network services) and .org (non-profit organizations). 6 In addition, there are new top-level domains such as .online , .store , .xyz .

• Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs): These are domain names assigned to each country, such as .vn for Vietnam. Domain names

  .vn also has sub-extensions managed by VNNIC (Vietnam Internet Center) to differentiate according to field of operation:

  • .com.vn: for organizations and commercial enterprises.

  • .net.vn: for organizations providing internet services.

  • .edu.vn: for educational institutions.

  • .gov.vn: for Party and State agencies.

  • .pro.vn , .info.vn : other special domains.

Domain names by industry and purpose of use

In addition to traditional national and international domain names, the emergence of new domain name extensions (new gTLDs) has created more options to express the specific purpose of a website. For example:

• .shop and .store : Suitable for e-commerce websites or online stores.

• .dev and .tech : Ideal for technology projects, programming or companies in the IT field.

• .me : Often used for personal websites, portfolios or blogs.

• .online : For general online business services.

Choosing a domain name that matches your industry will help increase brand recognition and easily attract the right target audience.

Professional domain name selection and lookup guide

Criteria for choosing a domain name that is easy to remember and easy to type

Choosing a good domain name is the first and most important step in building an online presence. An effective domain name should satisfy the following criteria:

• Short and simple: The shorter the domain name, the easier it is to remember and type. Avoid using long, complicated strings of characters.

• Easy to pronounce and write: Domain names should be easy to communicate verbally without causing confusion. Avoid using special characters or confusing numbers.

• Brand Relevance: Your domain name should be closely related to your company name, brand or industry. This not only makes it easier for customers to recognize, but also helps build professionalism.

• Suitable for the purpose: Choose a domain name extension that suits the purpose of the website, for example .com for international business, .vn for the Vietnamese market.

Domain Lookup: Check and Look Up Information

Before registering, the first thing to do is to check if the desired domain name is available. Most domain name service providers have an automated lookup tool on their website.

Additionally, users can also look up the details of a registered domain name to find out about the owner, registration date, expiration date, and service provider. This helps determine the current status of the domain name and can be used to contact the owner if there is a need to buy it back.

Evaluate costs, registrars and accompanying services

Price Model Analysis: Don't Just Look at the Initial Low Price

The domain name market is fiercely competitive, and many registrars often use extremely low pricing strategies to attract customers. For example, some providers offer .com or .xyz domain name registrations for just a few tens of thousands of VND for the first year, or free for domain extensions such as .id.vn and .cloud .

However, it is important to note that this is usually just the initial promotional price. The renewal price for subsequent years is often significantly higher, even dozens of times the initial registration price. A professional will not only look at the initial registration price but also evaluate the total cost of maintenance in the long term. Users need to compare renewal prices to avoid potential cost traps and ensure the sustainability of their website.

Choose a reputable domain name registrar

Choosing a reputable registrar is much more important than simply looking for the cheapest price. Important criteria for evaluating a registrar include:

• Accreditation and experience: Choose a registrar that is officially accredited by VNNIC (for .vn domain names) and ICANN (for international domain names). A provider with many years of experience and a large number of customers (for example, iNET with 20+ years of experience and 50,000+ customers) will ensure a professional and stable process.

• Professional Technical Support: A highly skilled 24/7/365 support team is key to resolving unexpected issues.

• Value-added services: Reputable providers often include free features like WHOIS anonymity, Email Forwarding, and advanced security technologies.

Domain name price comparison table

To provide an objective and systematic view of costs, the following is a comparison table of registration and renewal prices of some popular domain names from reputable providers in Vietnam.

Note: This price list is for reference only and may change depending on the promotional policy of each supplier.

Free Domain Names: Cost Savings or Risky Trade-Off?

Advantages of free domain names

Free domains are offered by some website platforms or service providers, allowing users to use them without having to pay any fees. The biggest advantage of this option is that it saves on initial costs, which is very suitable for testing purposes, learning, or small personal projects on a limited budget. The setup is also usually very quick and easy, without having to wait for a complicated approval process.

Potential risks to be aware of

Despite the cost advantages, using a free domain name comes with many serious risks and significant limitations, especially for serious business ventures.

• Lack of professionalism: Free domains are often subdomains ( example.free-platform.com ) instead of an independent official domain name. This significantly reduces the reputation and professionalism of the website in the eyes of customers and partners. Long and difficult to remember domain names also make it difficult for users to return to the website.

• Security risks: Free services often lack strong security measures, leaving the website vulnerable to hackers. In the event of a failure, access to data files is often limited, making it difficult to restore and retrieve information.

• Limited Features: Free websites are often limited in storage, bandwidth, and other important features. Additionally, the provider may forcefully insert irrelevant ads into your site.

• Difficulty in Scaling and SEO: Free websites are very scalable. Upgrading or switching to a professional domain is often complicated and sometimes requires rebuilding the site from scratch. Furthermore, search engines tend to give lower weight to subdomains, which can be detrimental to Google rankings.

For these reasons, free domains are only a temporary solution and not a long-term option for any individual or business looking to build a strong brand online.

Digital Asset Management and Protection: Domain Names

Domain name renewal instructions

A domain name has a certain expiration date, usually 1 year or more. Users need to actively monitor and renew the domain name before it expires. If not renewed in time, the domain name will be revoked and may be re-registered by someone else, resulting in the loss of control over your brand identity on the internet.

Secure your domain with modern technologies

Domain security is vital to protecting digital assets and brands from cyberattacks. Reputable domain registrars often offer advanced security technologies:

• DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions): This is a digital signature technology that helps prevent DNS spoofing. DNSSEC ensures that users access the correct website and are not redirected to fraudulent websites created by bad guys.

• Registry Lock: An additional layer of security at the domain administrator level. Changing information or transferring a domain requires a complex authentication process, thereby preventing unauthorized domain transfers.

• WHOIS Hide: This service helps protect the domain owner's personal information from being made public on the WHOIS database, thereby minimizing the risk of spam or attack.

Create email with your own domain name

Using email with your own domain name ([email protected]) instead of free services ([email protected]) is a strategic move to enhance your reputation and affirm your brand. Your own domain name email creates professionalism in communication, especially in business. In addition, these email services often have a higher rate of being sent to the inbox, avoiding being filtered into the spam folder.

Domain Name FAQs

• How to check if a domain name is registered?

  • You can use the domain name lookup tool on the websites of reputable providers.

• Do I need hosting to buy a domain name?

  • Domain name and hosting are two separate services but both are necessary for a website to function. Domain name is the address, and hosting is where website data is stored.

• How much does a domain name and hosting cost?

  • Domain name costs vary depending on the extension and provider, with initial registration fees ranging from a few tens of thousands to millions of dong. Hosting costs also vary depending on the service package.

• Where to buy a reputable domain name?

  • You should choose suppliers that are officially recognized by VNNIC and ICANN, have many years of experience, good support and accompanying security services.

• Can domain names be purchased forever?

  • Domain names cannot be purchased permanently. You only own the domain name for a certain period of time (minimum 1 year) and need to actively renew it periodically.