Coworking has rapidly grown in Ho Chi Minh City and around the world, especially in tech industry. But many people are still confused about what exactly is ‘coworking’ and ‘a coworking space’.
What is coworking?
Coworking began with the ‘hacker spaces’ of the 1990’s, before the first coworking spaces emerged in the early 2000’s.
Coworking spaces provide a shared workspace for many individuals, project or companies in one location.
This doesn’t mean that everyone is in one single area! Modern coworking spaces have a mix of areas, including dedicate desks, shared space and private studios. Members usually get access to private meeting rooms, cafes / kitchenettes, lounges, plus a range of other amenities.
Depending on the space, members also become part of a community of startups, entrepreneurs, freelancers, remote workers and others.
How is coworking different to traditional offices in Ho Chi Minh city?
Traditional offices require leases through real estate contracts. They’re typically for 2 years and require the tenant to provide furnishings. They’ll also require the tenant to arrange and pay for internet, electricity, cleaning, security and so on.
Coworking doesn’t require long term contracts, large deposits and expensive fit outs. Coworking is shorter term, all-inclusive and much more flexible. For many companies, its actually cheaper than a traditional office rented through a real estate contract.
Coworking spaces also place a higher priority on community. Coworking spaces encourage their members to interact, through design and the way that they operate. However, coworking spaces also try to keep areas for members to focus on their work: it’s not all table tennis and beer on tap.
Why is coworking so popular?
Coworking is flexible, affordable and has many other benefits for members. Coworking allows members to focus on what their project or job, without having to worry about all the usual real estate considerations.
Is coworking the same in Ho Chi Minh City?
Yes, coworking in Ho Chi Minh City is very similar to other cities. Just like in other major cities, you can find high quality coworking options with reliable internet, well-designed work stations and friendly professional communities. Of course, there are a range of spaces and operators, each with their own slightly different approach to delivering flexible workspace solutions for individuals and companies.
In Ho Chi Minh City, coworking is really popular because it saves people the hassle of dealing with real estate agents and other service providers.
What is Saigon Coworking?
Saigon Coworking was one of the very first coworking space in Ho Chi Minh City, with an established reputation for reliable, affordable coworking. While many of the original spaces have closed down, Saigon Coworking is still going strong.
Why ‘Saigon Coworking’? Well, Saigon is the local name for the downtown area of Ho Chi Minh City. The locals refer to the city as Saigon, although the city is known officially as Ho Chi Minh City.
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