The Vietnam Internet Network Information Center (VNNIC) is a state-affiliated agency under the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam. Established on April 28, 2000, it functions as the national entity responsible for the management and distribution of Internet resources within the country.
The primary responsibilities of VNNIC include:
- Domain Name Management: VNNIC acts as the registry for the ".vn" country-code top-level domain (ccTLD). It establishes regulations for domain registration and manages the system of registrars that provide ".vn" domain services to the public.
- IP Address and AS Number Allocation: The agency is responsible for the planning, allocation, and registration of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses—including both IPv4 and IPv6—and Autonomous System (AS) numbers at the national level.
- Internet Infrastructure: VNNIC operates and manages the Vietnam National Internet Exchange (VNIX). This infrastructure facilitates the interconnection between domestic Internet Service Providers (ISPs), aimed at improving the speed and stability of internal Vietnamese network traffic while reducing costs.
- International Representation: The center represents Vietnam’s interests in international Internet governance and technical organizations, such as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC).
- Policy and Standards: VNNIC participates in the development of legal frameworks, technical standards, and policies regarding Internet resource usage to ensure national network security and the growth of the digital economy in Vietnam.
The organization operates as a non-profit, public-service entity, funded through fees collected from the management of domain names and IP addresses, which are reinvested into the maintenance and development of Vietnam's Internet infrastructure.
