The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will hold the fourth Asia Pacific Domain Name System (DNS) Forum from May 8 to 9, 2025, at the InterContinental Hanoi Landmark 72 in Viet Nam. With the Viet Nam Internet Network Information Center (VNNIC) serving as the local host, this year’s event promises important conversations about language diversity, Internet accessibility, and the future of domain names across the region.
The APAC DNS Forum 2025 is positioned to bring together leaders from the technical, business, and civil sectors to examine how a multilingual Internet can open digital doors for hundreds of millions of new users. By expanding the use of non-Latin scripts and native languages within the DNS, participants aim to make the Internet truly accessible to more communities worldwide.
Key Sessions to Address the Next Billion Internet Users
The event will kick off with an opening plenary focusing on the future of the Internet and domain name space. Discussions will center around emerging initiatives to bring the next billion users online, a task that grows more pressing as digital economies continue to expand across the Asia Pacific region.
Another important session will tackle the outcomes of the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), specifically how these outcomes may shape future policy and infrastructure development in the APAC region.
Several top ICANN officials will attend, including ICANN Board Chair Tripti Sinha and President and CEO Kurtis Lindqvist. Their participation underscores the significance of the forum and ICANN’s commitment to working closely with regional stakeholders.
Samiran Gupta, Vice President and Managing Director of ICANN APAC, noted, “This is the fourth year that we’re hosting the DNS Forum for our APAC community and we are excited to be in Hanoi, known for its rich history and vibrant culture. We look forward to hearing the voices from the region on key topics concerning the future of the Internet.”
Nguyen Hong Thang, Director General of VNNIC, added, “VNNIC is very honored to be selected as the local host of APAC DNS Forum, a major event for experts and communities working in the domain name industry in the Asia Pacific region. We hope that the community will have a great time meeting in Hanoi and discussing the safe, secure, and reliable development of domain names, the DNS, and the role of ccTLDs in promoting the development of the Internet for everyone with the key message ‘Internet for all’.”
A Historic Co-Location with CP Summit and UA Day
For the first time, the APAC DNS Forum will coincide with two other major Internet governance events: the 2025 Contracted Parties (CP) Summit and Universal Acceptance (UA) Day 2025. The CP Summit, scheduled for May 5 to 7, 2025, will focus on coordination between registrars and registry operators, while UA Day on May 8 will promote awareness about the acceptance of all domain names and email addresses in different scripts and character lengths.
A special networking session on the evening of May 7 will officially open the Forum’s broader activities, giving attendees an opportunity to connect before formal discussions begin.
One-time registration grants access to all sessions, whether attending in-person or virtually, ensuring a unified experience across the Forum, CP Summit, and UA Day.
ICANN’s Continued Global Efforts
The APAC DNS Forum 2025 builds on ICANN’s consistent global outreach efforts. DNS forums have already been held in Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Each gathering is intended to strengthen collaboration within the Internet community, support innovation in the DNS industry, and reinforce ICANN’s mission to ensure a secure and unified global Internet.
Since its founding in 1998, ICANN has served as a cornerstone in maintaining a stable Internet infrastructure by coordinating the assignment of unique addresses (names and numbers) that computers use to communicate. This foundational role has kept the Internet stable, scalable, and accessible for decades.
Looking Ahead to a More Inclusive Internet
The conversations in Hanoi come at a pivotal time for the Internet’s future development. By addressing language inclusion, infrastructure growth, and regional cooperation, ICANN and its partners are setting the stage for a more globally inclusive Internet.
This year’s APAC DNS Forum will not only explore technical solutions but also highlight the importance of local participation and regional leadership in Internet governance. It is a reminder that the Internet’s strength lies in its ability to reflect the diverse voices of its users — and to remain open, accessible, and secure for all.
