My House and My Neighbourhood

AMy name is Lan. I am twenty-five years old, and I live in Ho Chi Minh City with my parents and my younger brother. We have lived in this city since I was born. Our home is on a small street near the city centre. It is not a big city street, but it is very busy at certain times of the day. I want to tell you about my house and my neighbourhood today. Life here is simple, but I love it very much. Many families live close to us, and most people know each other well. We often say hello to each other in the morning. Some neighbours have lived here for more than twenty years. I feel safe and happy in this small area, and I do not want to move to another place. My grandparents used to live on this street too, but they moved to the countryside a few years ago. My father grew up in this house, and he still remembers many old stories about the street. Every time I walk home from work, I feel calm and relaxed.

BOur house is small but comfortable. It has three floors. On the first floor, there is a living room, a kitchen, and a small bathroom. My family eats breakfast and dinner together in the kitchen every day. On the second floor, there are two bedrooms. My parents sleep in one room, and my brother and I share the other room. On the third floor, there is only one room. My father uses it as an office. He works there in the evening. The house does not have a garden, but we have a small balcony on the second floor. My mother grows tomatoes, chillies, and some herbs in pots on the balcony. In the morning, sunlight comes into the living room through a big window. The house is old, but my parents keep it very clean. We painted the walls a light yellow colour two years ago.

COur street is narrow, but it has many trees on both sides. In the past, there were only a few trees, but the local government planted more trees five years ago, so the street looks greener now. There are about thirty houses on our street. Most of the houses are small, like ours, but a few families have bigger houses with two cars. Children often play badminton on the street in the late afternoon because there are not many cars at that time. In the morning, the street is busy with motorbikes because people go to work and school. There is a small park at the end of the street. Old people go there to exercise every morning, and children play there after school. The street does not have a swimming pool or a sports centre, but everyone is happy with the small park.

DOur neighbours are very friendly. Next to our house, there is an old couple named Mr. and Mrs. Tran. They have lived on this street for thirty years. Mrs. Tran often gives us fruit from her garden, and my mother sometimes cooks food for them. On the other side, there is a young family with two small children. The children often come to play with my brother on weekends. Some neighbours also help each other when there is a problem, such as a broken water pipe or a power cut. Last year, when a big storm damaged our roof, three neighbours came to help my father fix it. We also celebrate Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, together every year. Some families cook food and share it with other houses on the street. I think good neighbours are like a second family, and I am very lucky to have them.

ENear our house, there is a small wet market. It opens early in the morning and closes at noon. My mother goes there almost every day to buy fresh vegetables, fish, and meat. The market has about fifty small stalls. Some sellers have worked there for more than fifteen years, and my mother knows many of them well. Two years ago, a new supermarket opened near our house. The supermarket is bigger and cleaner than the market, and it sells many kinds of products, from food to clothes. However, prices at the supermarket are usually higher than prices at the wet market. Since the supermarket opened, fewer people go to the small market than before, but the market has not closed. Some old customers, like my mother, still prefer the market because the vegetables there are fresher and cheaper. Young people in the neighbourhood usually go to the supermarket because it is more convenient for them.

FIn general, I am very happy with my house and my neighbourhood. It is not a rich or modern area, but it has everything my family needs: a comfortable home, kind neighbours, and a convenient market nearby. My parents plan to repair the roof and paint the house again next year. They also want to buy a new refrigerator for the kitchen. I hope our street stays quiet and friendly in the future, even though the city is changing quickly. Many tall buildings are being built near the city centre, but our small street still feels calm and simple. I will always remember the sound of the market in the morning and the smiling faces of my neighbours. When I have my own family one day, I hope I can live in a similar neighbourhood, with kind people around me. For now, I am thankful for the simple life that my house and my street give me every single day.