Why I long for landed house after 5 years living in apartment

After viewing several landed properties in the last few days, I have felt a strong urge to move my family from the small, cramped apartment we have lived in for the past five years to a spacious landed house suitable for multiple generations, ideally within the next five years. This stems not from a fleeting desire, but from practical experience and careful consideration of how a multi-generational Vietnamese family lives in a modern urban context.

Over the years, I have realized that an apartment offers certain conveniences but also comes with many limitations. Waiting for the elevator every morning has become a familiar issue for any resident. Gathering the entire family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, can only happen on rare occasions due to limited space and the fact that each of us lives on a separate floor. As the children grow up, each with their own schedules and private worlds, conversations within the extended family naturally become less frequent.

Living in an apartment sometimes feels as if daily interactions must be "scheduled" rather than occurring naturally as they do when family members live in one singular unit, where you can simply step outside of your room to meet and talk. Therefore, moving to a landed house is as much a change of living space as a shift in quality of life and a way to rekindle the bonds between family members.

To reach this goal within the next five years, I have outlined a clear roadmap with specific objectives as people cannot relocate on a whim amid rising property prices and cost of living.

My first goal is to get my finances in order. If I eye a landed property in an urban area or near the city center, I need to maintain a steady income, save more money, cut unnecessary expenses and invest wisely. I know that only once my finances are secure can the rest of my plans move forward smoothly.

Next, I want to increase my income through career development. Five years is not long, but likely enough to secure a promotion at my current company or to find other sources of income. This could involve improving my professional skills, earning certifications or starting a small business that I can handle.

Third, I plan to study the real estate market carefully. The timing of a purchase, location, potential for value growth, living environment and surrounding amenities are all key factors. Instead of waiting until I have the money to start looking, I want to begin observing the market now to identify locations that suit my family’s needs and spot new projects as soon as they emerge. Being proactive will help me avoid making a rushed or emotionally driven decision.

I also want to rally my extended family to my cause. Moving to a landed house will improve familial relationships. Family meals, intergenerational interactions and children playing in their grandparents’ yard could become part of everyday life again. To make this happen, everyone needs to share the same expectations and support each other, both emotionally and financially. Their unity will be the biggest driver of this plan.

Finally, I want to maintain both my physical and mental well-being. Changing my living situation is a long process that requires energy, persistence and the ability to handle stress. I do not want to exhaust or burn myself out to reach the goal.

I believe that any big dream must start with baby steps. Five years from now, I hope to open the door to our new landed home, where my extended family can gather, share and be closer than ever.

*This opinion was submitted by a reader. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.