IELTS Speaking – Hàng xóm & Láng giềng

Yes, quite well actually. On one side there's an elderly couple who have lived there for over thirty years, and on the other side a young family with two small kids. We're not best friends, but we always stop for a chat, and we keep an eye on each other's houses when someone's away.

Almost every day, but usually only briefly. I'll say hello when I leave for work, or we'll exchange a few words when we're taking out the rubbish. We have longer conversations during festivals like Tet, when people visit each other's homes, so those are the times I really catch up on local news.

Yes, several times. The most memorable was when our house flooded during a heavy storm a few years ago. Our neighbours came over with buckets and helped us move furniture upstairs before the water rose too high. Without them, we'd have lost a lot more, and I've never forgotten their kindness.

For me, a good neighbour is someone who's considerate and respects your privacy, but is also there when you need them. Basically, they keep the noise down, don't block your gate with their motorbike, and will happily lend you a ladder or take in a parcel. It's that balance between friendliness and not being nosy.

I'd like to talk about Mrs Lan, who lived opposite my family when I was a teenager. She was a widow in her sixties who ran a small grocery shop from her front room, and we lived across from her for about eight years. There are a few things she did that I still remember clearly. Every afternoon, children from the street gathered outside her shop after school, and she would let us sit on little plastic stools and do our homework while our parents were still at work. She never charged us for the iced tea she handed out, and if anyone was struggling with maths, she would sit down and help. She also knew everyone's business, but in a caring way rather than a gossipy one: when my father was in hospital, she sent soup over every evening for a week without being asked. I think she was a good neighbour because she made our street feel like an extended family. In a city where many people barely know who lives next door, she created a sense of safety and belonging. Our parents could go to work knowing someone was keeping an eye on us, and we children grew up feeling that the whole street cared about us. When she eventually moved away to live with her son, the street honestly felt emptier.

A big reason is the way people live and work. Many city residents spend long hours at the office and commute, so they only come home to sleep. People also move house more often, especially renters, so there's little time to form relationships. On top of that, apartment buildings can be quite anonymous; you might share a lift with someone for years without exchanging names. And frankly, many people simply value their privacy and prefer to keep their social life separate from where they live.

Shared activities are probably the most effective way. For example, a residential building could organise a mid-autumn festival party for the children or a monthly clean-up of the common areas, which gives people a natural reason to talk. Online groups for each street or building also help, since neighbours can share news, sell second-hand items or ask for help. Even small gestures, like introducing yourself to new arrivals with a plate of fruit, can gradually create a warmer atmosphere.

Noise is probably the most common source of conflict, whether it's late-night karaoke, barking dogs or renovation work. Parking is another big one, particularly in narrow city streets where people block each other's entrances. Disputes can also arise over shared spaces, like who should pay to fix a leaking wall between two houses. Most of these issues could be resolved with a polite conversation, but when people avoid talking directly, small annoyances can build up into serious resentment.

I believe it's very beneficial. When children know the adults around them, they feel safer and more confident exploring their neighbourhood, and they learn social skills by interacting with people of different ages, not just their parents and classmates. A close community also acts as an informal safety net; neighbours notice if something seems wrong. Having said that, it isn't essential, as children can still thrive in cities through school, sports clubs and other activities.