Co-working has become an increasingly popular trend in Vietnam over the past 4 years with freelancers and small and medium enterprises benefiting from the lower operational costs.
Co-working spaces are shared office space. Typical users include the self-employed, freelancers or even businesses that don’t want to invest in traditional office infrastructure. While the trend is common abroad it has only recently been adopted in Vietnam.
To many small business owners like Tran Viet Hung, rent can be a real burden, so finding a work-space that is both a nice environment and value money isn’t easy. Co-working places such as Toong are one such solution.
"This co-working space is 136 USD per month for a contracted user. Our company pays fees every three months, so we get a 10% discount. For my company, it is really cheap compared to a traditional office. Rent for a 9 to 10-square-metre office in Hanoi is about 227 USD per month. In a valued location such as Tràng Thi Street, it’s difficult to find a space to rent. A small office may also undermine a client’s confidence in your business", said Tran Viet Hung, Chairman of Seven A Star.
Toong is one of the first large-scale co-working spaces in Vietnam, catering to those looking for a professional working space without having to pay much. This new type of working combines the best features of home office, coffee shops and traditional corporate settings.
Rent fees and initial capital are usually high. Co-working spaces helps businesses reduce costs for facilities while offering them with good location and other additional services.
Open-planned and beautifully designed, shared working spaces are often described as creatively inspiring places. Angus Cheng found this co-working space to work during his 2-month holiday in Vietnam, while hoping to learn more about start-up situation in the country. The flexibility offered by co-working spaces also suits people who are working in the country for a short period of time.
