2026 Office Planning: Why Smart Teams Start Now?
With 2026 being only a few months away, while lease cycles, budgets, and buildouts usually take 6-12 months to complete, planning for 2026 from today is the key to flexibility and savings tomorrow. For startups scaling from 50 to 200 people, lacking a clear office plan by 2026 can force you into “just enough” spaces that directly impact productivity and talent retention. Vietnam’s office market is undergoing rapid transformation, with approximately 40-50% of companies now utilizing flexible office solutions. Forward-thinking teams are also initiating their office strategies at this time.
Why Waiting Costs More
Long lease cycles and delayed decision-making
One of the biggest mistakes growing companies make is postponing decisions about office space planning in Ho Chi Minh City. Traditional office leases in Vietnam typically run 3-5 years, with preparation and fit-out taking 6-9 months. If you start searching for office space in late 2025, you might not move into your new workspace until well into 2026.
According to Savills reports, Ho Chi Minh City’s office market faces fierce competition for prime locations, with average occupancy rates of 85-90% in Grade A buildings. Waiting means fewer choices, higher rents, and unwanted compromises.
The cost of “just enough” spaces
The true cost of choosing a “just enough” office extends far beyond monthly rent. Recent studies show that poor work environments can reduce productivity by 15% and increase turnover by 20%. For a 100-person company with average salaries of $850/month, recruitment and training costs could reach hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
Data from Vietnam’s real estate market shows fit-out costs have risen 18-22% over the past two years due to construction material inflation and labor costs. Delaying decisions means facing higher costs later while missing opportunities to negotiate better terms when the market offers more options.
The 2026 Shift — From Square Meters to Strategy
Offices now drive employer brand and retention
Workplace strategy 2026 is no longer just about calculating square meters per employee. Modern offices have become crucial tools for building an employer brand and retaining talent. Today’s younger workforce, especially in tech and services, values work experience as much as salary. A thoughtfully designed office with comprehensive amenities and a convenient location can be the deciding factor that makes potential candidates choose your company over competitors.
According to Savills Vietnam, market demand is shifting from “square footage” to “experience,” with companies willing to pay premium prices for spaces with distinctive design, professional community, and comprehensive support services.
Hybrid models demand flexibility, not permanence
Hybrid work has evolved from a trend to a new standard. Cushman & Wakefield surveys show that 74% of business leaders across Asia-Pacific consider flexibility essential for 2026 workforce planning. This poses major challenges for traditional leases, where you’re locked into fixed square footage for years, regardless of team size changes.
Hybrid office solutions require an entirely new approach: spaces must scale up or down flexibly, support both focused work and team collaboration, while optimizing costs when some employees work remotely. This is why flexible office Vietnam options are increasingly favored by high-growth companies.
With 10+ years of experience in the field, supporting multiple fast-scaling companies across different industries, Dreamplex is more than a working space. Each location is thoughtfully designed as a living ecosystem, featuring private offices, collaboration lounges, cafés, and event spaces that adapt to the unique rhythm of every team. It offers the branded identity and privacy of a traditional office, combined with the agility and efficiency of a flexible workspace model.
What Planning Ahead Looks Like
Create a 2026 office checklist
An effective 2026 office strategy starts with a detailed checklist. First, forecast your team size: if your company currently has 50 employees with plans to reach 200 in two years, you need space that can expand in phases rather than a large office from day one.
Budget carefully, including not just rent but hidden costs like building management fees, utilities, internet, maintenance, equipment, and fit-out expenses. A common mistake is focusing solely on per-square-meter rent while forgetting that the total cost of ownership (TCO) for traditional offices can be 1.5-2 times the initial figure.
Location matters too. With hybrid models, consider a “hub and spoke” strategy with a main office in central HCMC and smaller satellite spaces in other districts, giving employees flexibility in choosing work locations.
Evaluate the total cost of ownership
Traditional Lease vs. Flexible Office Comparison
| Criteria | Traditional Office | Flexible Office |
| Setup Time | 6-9 months | 1-4 weeks |
| Upfront Cost | High (3-6 months deposit, fit-out) | Low (minimal deposit, move-in ready) |
| Commitment | 3-5 years | Flexible month-to-year |
| Scalability | Difficult, requires new space | Easy, expand within the system |
| Operating Costs | Self-managed | Included in rent |
| Risk | High (locked in despite changes) | Low (adjust to actual needs) |
According to IMARC Group reports, Vietnam’s flexible workspace market is growing impressively, projected to reach hundreds of millions of USD in the coming years, reflecting major shifts in how businesses approach office strategy.
Why Vietnam’s Flexible Offices Win
1. Central locations, move-in ready, scalable
Flexible office Vietnam delivers superior advantages in location and deployment speed. Instead of spending 6-9 months searching, negotiating, and fitting out a traditional office, flexible office solutions let you move into ready-to-operate spaces within weeks. This is especially critical for fast-growing startups when time equals money.
Flexible offices in HCMC are typically located in prime areas like District 1, Binh Thanh, and District 2, with convenient transportation and modern infrastructure. Flexible scalability is a major strength: when your company grows from 50 to 100 employees, you can easily rent additional space in the same building or move to a larger office within the system, without breaking contracts or spending on re-fit-out.
2. Hospitality-led service and hybrid-ready design
The biggest differentiator of flexible office solutions is a hospitality-style service philosophy, where every detail is curated to create the best work experience. From professional reception teams and smart meeting room booking systems to amenities like cafes, relaxation areas, and regular networking events, everything is designed to make employees feel supported and inspired.
A hybrid-ready design is also crucial. Each Dreamplex location is thoughtfully crafted as a living ecosystem, featuring private offices, shared lounges, cafés, and event spaces that adapt to the unique rhythm of every team. It offers the brand presence and privacy of a conventional office, paired with the flexibility and efficiency of a modern workspace.
How to Start Your 2026 Plan
Just 3 simple steps to start the process:
Step 1: Talk to Dreamplex Workplace Advisor
Dreamplex’s expert team will help analyze your specific needs: headcount growth forecasts, budget, location, and amenity requirements. We’ll work with you to build an office strategy aligned with your company’s development stage, from 50 people through expansion to 200+ employees.
Step 2: Compare flexible office options
Explore different spaces in the Dreamplex HCMC system, from boutique central offices to larger spaces in developing districts. Each location has unique characteristics suited to different needs: proximity to tech hubs, access to the startup community, or convenient transportation connections.
Step 3: Visit your future 2026 workspace
Don’t just look at photos—visit in person to feel the atmosphere, meet the community, and envision your team working there. We encourage bringing team members on tours to get diverse perspectives on the space and services.
Plan now!
While competitors wait and “see how things develop,” smart teams are planning for 2026 today. They understand that the office plan 2026 isn’t just about finding a beautiful space, but building a comprehensive strategy that optimizes costs, boosts productivity, and creates a competitive advantage in the war for talent.
Vietnam’s office market is changing rapidly, with increasingly flexible and modern options. But the best locations at the best prices won’t wait forever. Starting planning now not only ensures you secure the ideal space, but also lets you adjust flexibly as your company actually develops.
2026 may seem distant, but the best opportunity to prepare for it is today.
Ready to plan your 2026 office with confidence?
Book a tour of Dreamplex spaces today and discover how we can support your growth journey. Or learn more about our flexible office solutions and workplace design philosophy.
Get a quote and explore this month promotions at:
- Hotline: +84 706 023 545
- Email: sales@dreamplex.co
About Dreamplex
Dreamplex creates “A Better Day at Work” by perfectly meeting the needs of rapidly growing companies that understand their young employees expect more from their workplace.
With professional, flexible workspaces, top-notch hospitality services, and a collaborative community for mutual growth, Dreamplex helps businesses work productively while optimizing operational costs.
Join the community with tech experts and startup founders from TIKI, Zuhlke Vietnam, GFT Group, Vietcetera, at Dreamplex’s flexible office spaces in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
WE CREATE BETTER DAYS AT WORK.
