Microsoft opens new office in Ho Chi Minh City after workforce cuts

Microsoft Vietnam announced the opening of its new office on the 22nd floor of Riverfront Financial Centre at 3A-3B Ton Duc Thang Street in Saigon Ward, downtown Ho Chi Minh City, on Thursday.

“This is a meaningful milestone in our 30-year journey alongside Vietnamese organizations and businesses, and reflects Microsoft's commitment to maintaining a presence in and building long-term ties with the market,” the company said in a statement.

The firm said that the new office, designed with people at its center, features upgraded facilities and more flexible workspaces.

It serves not only as a place for Microsoft employees to work, connect and collaborate but also as an open space to welcome customers and partners in southern Vietnam.

“Today, the way we work continues to evolve, bringing new expectations for the workplace. Flexibility, connectivity and mental well-being are increasingly important. 

Our new office in Ho Chi Minh City is designed to meet these needs, with spaces that support focus, collaboration and rejuvenation, while enabling Microsoft to connect more closely with customers and partners,” said Dhanawat Suthumpun, managing director for Microsoft Thailand and emerging markets, including Vietnam.

“We look forward to continuing to contribute to Vietnam's digital transformation, AI capacity building and new growth opportunities in the years ahead,” he added.

In addition to shared workspaces, the office has dedicated focus rooms and meeting rooms of various sizes, all equipped with modern technology.

Beyond its modern facilities, the office incorporates elements of Vietnamese culture through a design concept inspired by floating markets, a distinctive feature of life in the Mekong Delta.

Drawing on the bustling trading scenes of floating markets, designers sought to recreate their spirit of commerce, exchange and connection in a workplace that encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing and idea development.

Shared workspaces are arranged in clusters reminiscent of boats moored along a central canal. Woven partitions, furniture made from recycled boat wood and decorative sails overhead further reinforce the theme.

Natural materials such as wood, woven bamboo and terracotta, along with greenery, bring the design together.

Microsoft entered the Vietnamese market in 1996. It was also among the U.S. technology companies that pioneered the development of a local research and development (R&D) team.

Microsoft Vietnam said the company established an R&D engineering team in 2024, making Vietnam the fourth market in Asia to have such a team, after China, Japan and Taiwan, according to local press.

The team was reportedly tasked with developing Microsoft 365 solutions for global markets.

Microsoft no longer has a dedicated general director for Vietnam. The position was previously held by Nguyen Quynh Tram.

Last month, Microsoft laid off a number of employees in Vietnam, but the company said it remains committed to the market.

The layoffs reportedly affected the company’s R&D team in Vietnam.

A Microsoft spokesperson told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the company continually adjusts how it operates and organizes its teams to support future priorities.

“These changes are implemented in various forms across the company and, in some cases, include difficult decisions affecting positions,” the spokesperson said.

The company also said it was committed to supporting affected employees through the transition with care and respect.

The company has not disclosed the number of employees affected or the positions involved in the layoffs.