Open apartment doors spark neighbor disputes as Vietnam embraces high-rise living

As Vietnam's urban landscape increasingly embraces high-rise living, a seemingly simple habit of leaving apartment doors open is sparking neighborhood disputes and highlighting a clash of lifestyles. For residents transitioning from landed homes, open doors offer familiar ventilation and a sense of community, but in densely populated apartment buildings, this practice is becoming a source of conflict. Thu Ha, a 47-year-old resident of a luxury apartment in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, recently received multiple warnings from building management for leaving her front door ajar. Accustomed to the open-door culture of landed homes, Ha found the restrictions uncomfortable. Her experience resonated on social media, where opinions were sharply divided, reflecting a broader societal debate. Many apartment complexes are implementing rules that discourage or ban open doors to curb noise, cooking odors, wandering pets and children, and to ensure privacy. Le Thanh Mai, 38, living in Hanoi, argues that strict door-closing policies can limit space for families with young children and stifle the tradition of casual neighborly chats. Conversely, Thu Phuong, 47, chose her Hanoi apartment specifically for its no-open-door policy, valuing the absence of cooking smells and noise in common hallways. Building management boards are grappling with the issue, with complaints about open doors constituting a significant portion of their workload. Some complexes have introduced a tiered penalty system, including warnings, service suspension, and fines. Property management firms note that such bans are often implemented retroactively due to resident complaints about odors, noise, and hallway encroachments. Beyond neighborly friction, open doors pose a critical fire safety concern. Modern apartment hallways are designed with sophisticated ventilation and smoke extraction systems. Leaving a door open during a fire could compromise these systems, allowing smoke to spread rapidly and neutralize safety measures. Experts point to building design, particularly the proximity and arrangement of doors in narrow hallways, as a contributing factor to these conflicts. Legally, while apartment owners have the right to manage their own space, this right is limited by the Civil Code, which prohibits infringing on the interests of others. Building management can intervene if open doors lead to issues like odor spread, excessive noise, or interference with common building systems. However, any formal ban must undergo proper official procedures and be approved by residents. Kim, the South Korean husband of Phuong Trang, observes that Vietnam's apartment culture is evolving, mirroring South Korea's past trajectory from an open, neighborly environment to one prioritizing private space. He anticipates Vietnam will follow a similar path, driven by an increasing emphasis on privacy and quality of life. As urbanization continues and building standards tighten, restrictions on open doors are expected to become more commonplace, aiming to balance individual freedoms with the collective safety and comfort of apartment living. Source: VnExpress International