Vietnam’s housing and accommodation has changed drastically over the past century, mostly for the better. Though, the older generation, both Vietnamese and foreign, can occasionally be heard reminiscing about the tight-knit communal living of the past.

Sometimes it may seem out of reach to have a community like the olden days in a modern world, but it is possible! Kosmo Tay Ho shares a few ways you can bring your condo community together in a fresh, fun way.

1. Use Social Media!

Unfortunately, message boards in the foyer don’t work anymore — it is 2017! Like it or not, people are glued to their phones and rarely notice physical notes or messages in communal areas. However, using people’s love of technology can work in your favour when promoting a community. Try making a message board on social media. Here, you can ask questions, share tips, and organise events without even having to leave the comfort of your home. It may not have the old world charm of a cork board but it gets the job done!

Facebook is a great channel for this, or the ever popular ‘chat apps’ used in Vietnam, such as Zalo, Viber or WhatsApp.

The Benefits:

• Whether it is good news or an emergency, news travels quickly online. Instant messenger means you have a direct line to everyone in the group, and potentially almost everyone in the building
• You can share images and video clips as well as links to interesting content from around the internet that’s relevant to your community
• You can add members of the management staff — and by doing so, tagging them in group posts means they are required to respond quickly, which can help improve customer service
• Social media makes it easy to find people with the same tastes in pets, films, art, or sports activities. You can even start an interest group and plan regular meet-ups with fellow Kosmo Tay Ho residents

2. Get Physical

For many people, their hobbies are a big part of who they are, especially when it comes to sports and exercise. One way to connect with similar-minded residents in Kosmo Tay Ho is to arrange regular fitness meet-ups with others who share the same interests.

It could be body-weight training by one of the Kosmo Tay Ho four heated swimming pools, running around the nearby 11-a-side football stadium, cycling into the northern countryside, or kickboxing classes at AKC on Lac Long Quan.

If you are looking for more structured group classes, The Fitness Village on Nghi Tam Street in Tay Ho holds weekly weight training, high intensity classes, and yoga sessions for all ages and abilities. These are great to go to in groups — just make sure you book on the website in advance to ensure you reserve all the spaces you need.

Other Fitness Options In Tay Ho:

The Fitness Village (Number 68, Alley 50, Lane 310 Nghi Tàm)

Elite Fitness (There are centres on Thăng Long, Phạm Ngọc Thạch and Xuân Diệu)

Crossfit Tay Ho (77 Xuân Diệu)

California Fitness (There are gyms on Hai Bà Trưng, Láng Hạ and Xuân Thủy)

AKC (Number 53, Lane 52 Tô Ngọc Vân, Quảng An or 591 Lạc Long Quân)

Fit24 (Floor 2, Vườn Đào Building, Lane 689 Lạc Long Quân)

3. Reading Clubs And Book Exchanges

If reading is your thing, get together a group of others bookworms to enjoy swapping stories or chatting about your latest read.

Book clubs can be a great way to connect with a small group of people with similar tastes. It is also an activity that can work for any individual of any age, whether you are a parent who would like a regular break from the family, you would like to convince your child to pick up more books, or just someone who would like to chat about literature.

Book exchanges are another way to meet others and build a community. This activity is less commitment than a book club, but it still allows you to introduce yourself to the neighbours. Swapping books with others also means that you save space in your apartment and save money that would be spent on new books — so be sure to ‘swap don’t shop’!

You could also host a book-themed night, inviting your guests to bring along their favourite books. Or, you could turn you meet-ups into a day out by organising a group activity or an event in a local cafe. There are plenty of cafes in the West Lake are that support group activities by offering discounts or private rooms, such as Clickspace on To Ngoc Van and Bluebirds Nest not far from the Old Quarter.