Question 1

What markets does leapX operate in?

Accepted Answer

leapX is headquartered in Singapore and currently operates directly in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam, with its advisory reach extending across Southeast Asia. Vietnam is the firm's specialist focus, particularly for foreign businesses entering or expanding in the market.

Question 2

What services does leapX provide?

Accepted Answer

leapX provides five core services: Tenant Representation, Landlord Representation, Investment & Sales Advisory, Market Entry & Expansion Advisory, and Workplace Strategy. These services support businesses across the real estate lifecycle — from a company's first market-entry space search through lease renewals, portfolio optimisation, and eventual acquisition or disposal decisions.

Question 3

How long has leapX's team been operating in the region?

Accepted Answer

leapX's leadership has over 20 years of combined experience negotiating and transacting real estate for major technology companies, multinational corporations, and property developers across Southeast Asia. leapX as a brand is newer, but it is built on this established transaction track record.

Question 4

Who is leapX best suited for?

Accepted Answer

leapX is best suited for foreign companies entering Vietnam, startups and scale-ups choosing between coworking and a first office lease, and growing businesses that need to renegotiate, expand, or consolidate their office footprint.

Question 5

Do I need a local office to register a company in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, a registered business address in Vietnam is required to incorporate a foreign-invested company. Depending on the business structure and licensing requirements, this may be a serviced or coworking address for early-stage entities or a full office lease for larger operations. The right choice depends on the type of business licence and expected headcount. leapX advises on the real estate side of market entry alongside a company's legal and corporate-services providers.

Question 6

What's the best way for a foreign company to enter the Vietnamese office market?

Accepted Answer

Many foreign companies begin with a coworking or serviced office to establish a presence and test the market with minimal commitment. As headcount and business plans become clearer, they may transition to a conventional or managed office lease. leapX's Market Entry & Expansion Advisory service is designed to support this staged approach.

Question 7

How does leapX support businesses entering Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

leapX supports market entry by helping businesses evaluate location options, compare coworking and office solutions against budget and operational requirements, and develop a workplace strategy as the team scales. This works alongside — rather than replacing — legal, tax, licensing, and HR support provided by specialist corporate-services firms.

Question 8

Which cities should a foreign company consider first in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are Vietnam's two primary commercial hubs and account for a significant share of foreign business activity. Ho Chi Minh City is a major hub for finance, technology, and consumer-facing industries, while Hanoi is Vietnam's political capital and an important centre for manufacturing-adjacent and government-facing businesses. The right location depends on a company's industry, client base, talent requirements, and operational needs.

Question 9

What district in Ho Chi Minh City is best for a foreign company's first office?

Accepted Answer

District 1 remains a traditional CBD choice for client-facing and finance businesses, while Thu Thiem is an emerging Grade A business hub attracting companies seeking newer, high-quality office space. District 7 and Phu My Hung can offer an alternative for businesses prioritising accessibility, cost considerations, and proximity to southern residential and business communities. The right location ultimately depends on client access, employee commuting patterns, talent availability, and budget.

Question 10

What is workplace strategy, and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Workplace strategy is the process of aligning office space, layout, and workplace policies with how a company's people actually work. It considers factors such as headcount growth, hybrid schedules, collaboration needs, and operational requirements rather than making real estate decisions reactively. A well-defined workplace strategy can help businesses use space more effectively, improve the employee experience, and make more informed long-term real estate decisions.

Question 11

When should a growing company revisit its office space?

Accepted Answer

A company should revisit its office space when there is a significant change in headcount, when a lease renewal is approaching, or when hybrid and remote working policies change meaningfully. These changes can affect how much space a business needs and what type of workplace will best support its people and operations. leapX can help businesses review these requirements as part of an ongoing workplace strategy rather than only when it is time to search for a new office.

Question 12

How does office design affect team performance?

Accepted Answer

Office layout and design can influence how teams communicate, collaborate, and experience the workplace. Factors such as natural light, workspace zoning, meeting areas, quiet spaces, and collaborative environments can all affect how effectively people work together. For businesses competing for talent, a thoughtfully designed workplace can also play an important role in employee experience, engagement, and retention.

Question 13

What's the difference between serviced, managed, fitted, and conventional office space in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

A serviced office is an all-inclusive, short-commitment space run by an operator; a managed office is operator-run but billed as a single monthly cost tailored to the tenant; a fitted office is ready-built space with an existing fit-out available on direct lease; and a conventional lease is a traditional direct lease with the landlord, usually on a bare-shell or warm-shell basis with the longest commitment. Most first-time entrants to Vietnam start with serviced or managed space, then move to conventional leases as headcount stabilises.

Question 14

What is the average office rent in Ho Chi Minh City in 2026?

Accepted Answer

As of early 2026, Grade A CBD office rents in Ho Chi Minh City average roughly USD 60–65 per sqm per month, while Grade B space averages roughly USD 30–35 per sqm per month, according to JLL and CBRE market data. Actual rents vary by building grade, district, and lease terms — leapX provides current live quotes based on specific requirements.

Question 15

What's included in the total cost of an office beyond base rent?

Accepted Answer

Total occupancy cost in Vietnam typically includes base rent, service or management fees, utilities, fit-out costs, furniture, internet and IT setup, and other recurring occupancy costs such as parking or signage.

Question 16

How long does it take to find and secure office space in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

A typical office search takes several weeks from initial requirements to a signed lease, depending on space size, building grade, and timeline flexibility. Larger or highly specific requirements, such as a full-floor Grade A fit-out, can take longer, while smaller serviced or managed offices can move much faster.

Question 17

Are commercial lease terms negotiable in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

Yes — rent, rent-free periods, fit-out contributions, lease term length, and early-termination or break options are all commonly negotiated on conventional office leases in Vietnam, especially given current vacancy levels favouring tenants. leapX handles this negotiation directly on the client's behalf as part of tenant representation.

Question 18

Can leapX help with office fit-out?

Accepted Answer

Yes — leapX works with fit-out delivery partners to support planning and project management once a space is secured, in addition to negotiating any fit-out contribution or rent-free period from the landlord as part of the lease. This keeps design, budget, and lease terms aligned from the start rather than negotiated separately.

Question 19

What's the difference between Grade A and Grade B office space in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

Grade A buildings are typically newer, higher-specification towers in prime CBD or emerging hub locations, such as Thu Thiem in Ho Chi Minh City, with premium rents around USD 60+ per sqm per month. Grade B buildings are generally older or located slightly further from the core, often renting at roughly half that rate. The choice usually comes down to brand image and client-facing needs versus budget efficiency.

Question 20

What is coworking, and how is it different from a serviced office?

Accepted Answer

Coworking is a shared workspace model giving individuals or small teams access to desks, private offices, and meeting rooms without a conventional lease commitment, usually on flexible monthly terms. A serviced office is similar but typically gives a team its own private, lockable office within an operator-run building — coworking leans toward shared/open desks, serviced offices toward private team space; many operators offer both formats.

Question 21

Is coworking cheaper than leasing a conventional office in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

For small teams (roughly under 15–20 people), coworking is usually cheaper and faster to set up than a conventional lease once fit-out, furniture, and IT costs are factored in, because those costs are bundled into the desk price. For larger, longer-term headcounts, a conventional or managed office typically becomes more cost-efficient per person over a 2–3 year horizon.

Question 22

Who is coworking best suited for?

Accepted Answer

Coworking suits startups, foreign companies making their first entry into Vietnam, project or satellite teams, and growing or hybrid businesses that need flexibility on team size and contract length. It's a common first step before a company commits to its own leased office.

Question 23

How quickly can a team move into a coworking space?

Accepted Answer

Most coworking spaces can accommodate a new team within days to a few weeks, depending on team size and whether a dedicated desk cluster or private suite is required. This is one of the main advantages over a conventional lease, which typically takes several weeks to months from search to move-in.

Question 24

Can coworking contracts be month-to-month?

Accepted Answer

Many coworking operators in Vietnam offer flexible monthly terms, though the most competitive pricing is usually tied to 6–12 month commitments. Availability and flexibility vary by operator and location, which is why comparing multiple providers matters.

Question 25

What coworking brands operate in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

Major coworking and flexible workspace operators in Vietnam include The Sentry, Dreamplex, Toong, UPGen, CirCO, Compass Offices, The Executive Center, and Regus (IWG), alongside a growing number of boutique local operators. leapX compares options across all of these on a client's behalf rather than representing any single brand.

Question 26

Are private offices and enterprise suites available within coworking spaces?

Accepted Answer

Yes — most coworking operators offer private offices and enterprise-size suites alongside open desks, typically for teams of 5 to 100+ people who want dedicated, lockable space with shared building amenities. These sit price-wise between a hot desk and a fully independent leased office.

Question 27

Do foreigners need a work permit to work in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

Generally yes, unless they fall under one of the applicable exemption categories.

Question 28

How long does a Vietnam work permit take in 2026?

Accepted Answer

The authority generally has 10 working days to process a complete application, but allow additional time for document preparation, legalisation and translation.

Question 29

Can I work in Vietnam on a business visa?

Accepted Answer

A visa allowing entry does not automatically authorise employment.

Question 30

Can one work permit cover multiple locations?

Accepted Answer

Yes, where the relevant workplaces are properly included or notified.

Question 31

Can a foreign company hire employees in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with an appropriate legal and employment structure — a Vietnamese entity or an Employer of Record.

Question 32

How long can probation last?

Accepted Answer

From six working days for certain roles up to 180 days for enterprise managers.

Question 33

How much does an employer pay for social insurance?

Accepted Answer

Employer contributions to social, health and unemployment insurance are generally around 21.5%.

Question 34

Is a 13th-month salary mandatory?

Accepted Answer

No, but it is a common compensation practice, particularly around Tet.

Question 35

Should I set up an office before hiring?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. A small team may start with coworking or a flexible private office before moving into dedicated space.

Frequently Asked Questions

01 — About leapX

02 — Market Entry & Expansion

03 — Workplace Strategy

04 — Office Space

05 — Coworking

06 — Work Permits in Vietnam

07 — Hiring in Vietnam