My imagination about The Manor...Unlucky me :(

This week, our UC class has a field research at The Manor, one of the most luxurious corner of Hanoi. I was extremely keen on this trip because looking at the the splendid and unique buildings is among my interests which leads my mind to the feeling of pride that Vietnam - my beloved family has gained much in the process of development, integration to keep abreast with time, I am so proud of that...Unfortunately, some stupid problems held me back and the lateness disappointed me :(( I actually had come 3 mins late that I couldn't join in this fascinating activity. Anyway, I know that I shouldn't sit here writing those non-senses, actions would be much better, right? :) Thus, I've been trying to research information regarding The Manor as much as I can. Searching on the Internet, reading my friends' entries, chatting and asking the people who had come there... I finally has got something that I find interesting about this outstanding place

The first wondering raised in my mind after researching is why the management group of The Manor, whose primary aim is to help residents access to a comfortable and peaceful living space, now turns out to bring them an atmosphere flooded with such intensive and strict regulations and restrictions like this. Unluckily did not I have a chance to witness the scenes when the guards there chased my friends, asking them out of their areas as many told me with a fully pressing mood b-). I myself find that it's not worth doing so, even if The Manor is privatized area or not. That's a place to live, not an isolated island where the outsiders are restricted to visit.

Secondly, in spite of occasionally being mentioned as a "self-contained" city within our capital, some complaint that The Manor is even lacking things requisite for normal life, saying foods. One of my friend told that she was so hungry that she had tried to seek something, just to satisfy her rumbling stomach but nothing was found, except for KFC, the thing that she never thought of eating before. Even the cafeteria labeling itself with a range of fast-food outside serves for nothing except coffee or fruit juices - so funny I think :)) Thoughtfully, more services should be offered here to residents to deserve with what they have paid for.

To the best of my knowledge, from the insiders' perspective, The Manor actually is not an ideal living space as ones used to expect. Last March, there was an dispute between the people living at The Manor and Bitexco - its investor, regarding the issue of the fees for looking after the residents' vehicles. The fees even reached 1.6 million VND/month for cars which was surprisingly high for Vietnamese people. One person living there commented her family had spent up to 4 billion VND to buy the house and her family with 2 cars and one motorbike now had to pay nearly 6 million/month, following the current fee level :|


The line of cars queuing in front of The Manor when they are not allowed to enter the buildings because the residents didn't accept an unusually high parking fees. (March, 2009)

Above are just some main points I suppose should be improved in the near future so that to make The Manor reflect its real values. Hopefully can we see some new changes for the next time visiting there, really really hope so :X