Nestled between four busy streets, Ly Thuong Kiet, Tan Phuoc, Hoa Hao and Nguyen Kim, Ly Thuong Kiet Apartment Complex in Dien Hong Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, has retained its own distinctive rhythm of life after more than half a century, like a peaceful oasis amid the bustling city.
For many residents, the day begins right outside their front doors. Rather than going down to the street to find somewhere to eat or shop, they can simply step into the corridor for breakfast, groceries or fresh ingredients for the family meal.
From 7 am, vendors on the second floor set out fresh meat and fish brought from wholesale markets. The bustling trade turns the apartment corridor into a familiar little market, a tradition that has continued for decades.
The spacious corridors connecting the flats and the concrete staircases, worn smooth over the years, serve not only as passageways but also as shared spaces where residents meet, chat and trade.
On the third floor, a breakfast stall run by 51-year-old Tham has become a daily gathering spot. She said her husband's family had lived in the complex since it was first built, while she herself had called it home for 30 years.
"About two years ago, the corridors were very quiet and neighbours rarely had a chance to meet. Since the food stall opened, people have started dropping by every morning again, grabbing a bite and chatting," Tham said.
Another distinctive feature of life in the complex is that residents park their motorbikes on the upper floors. Many wheel their vehicles up to the second or third floor and leave them along the corridor outside their flats. Whenever they go out, they guide their motorbikes along the corridor and down the stairs to the ground floor, repeating the journey when they return.
Nguyen Van Hung, 64, said moving motorbikes between floors could be inconvenient for newcomers.
"But those of us who have lived here for years are used to it. We bring our motorbikes upstairs to avoid paying parking fees. Those living on higher floors or who are not comfortable riding down the stairs can still park downstairs," he said.
Residents also grow ornamental plants along the corridors, adding greenery and colour to the complex.
Some long-established electronic repair workers, who have been operating since before 2000, are still based there, bringing old televisions and electric cookers back to life. However, they lack the spare parts needed to repair newer devices.
Between the rows of closely packed flats are narrow passageways barely wide enough for one person to pass through. These everyday details help define the distinctive character of Ly Thuong Kiet Apartment Complex, a living witness to the passage of time in old and modern-day Saigon.