On February 26, the Vietnam Internet Center (VNNIC) announced it will organize an online auction for the rights to use 50 two-character second-level national domain names under “.vn” in March 2026.

This marks the first time such short and highly limited digital resources have been publicly auctioned. According to the plan, the first round will take place over three days, from March 18 to 20, 2026. A second round is expected in June 2026.

VNNIC noted that two-letter domains within the “.vn” namespace are finite in number, concise in structure, easy to remember and carry strong brand recognition value. They are particularly suitable for digital branding strategies and long-term investment.

Brand abbreviations such as mb.vn, lg.vn, cj.vn and jd.vn are considered especially valuable for protecting and developing brand assets in the digital environment.

Industry-related domains including ot.vn (automobile), dd.vn (mobile), fa.vn (finance), gc.vn (golf) and ex.vn (export-import) may offer competitive advantages for businesses operating in specialized sectors.

The list also features socially trending combinations such as 2k.vn, ok.vn, hi.vn, f0.vn and ez.vn, along with ultra-short alphanumeric domains like p1.vn, t7.vn and g8.vn, which are popular among technology companies and startups.

The auction will be conducted online using an ascending bid method, with each domain auctioned individually.

The starting price is set at VND10 million (US$400) per domain, excluding taxes and fees as prescribed. A deposit of VND1 million (US$40) per domain is required, with a bidding increment of VND1 million (US$40). Each auction session will last at least 20 minutes.

Participants may register and submit applications online, and deposits must be transferred within the specified deadlines for each auction day.

According to VNNIC, offering two-character domains through public auction aims to improve the effective use of national Internet resources, ensure transparency and fairness, and create equal opportunities for businesses and investors to access valuable digital assets.

Notably, organizations and individuals who win the auction will be granted the right to use the domain name in accordance with current regulations and may transfer the usage rights under existing mechanisms.

A VNNIC representative emphasized that this reinforces the idea that “.vn” domain names are not merely online identifiers but digital assets capable of generating long-term investment, commercial and brand development value, especially as the digital economy plays an increasingly important role.

The agency recommended that businesses and investors proactively review the list of domains and complete required procedures before the stated deadlines.

Thai Khang