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Welcome card for new Vietnamese neighbours?

(19 Posts)
BluebellGran Mon 17-Aug-26 15:47:24

I live in one of a group of small semidetached bungalows and a Vietnamese family will be moving into one of them. I have met them and they are very friendly, even bring us a bottle of wine and some chocolates to apologise for any noise caused by the bungalow being modernised. I think they must be new to the UK as they don’t speak much English - and I feel for them and want them to feel welcome.
I have a ‘welcome to your new home’ card ready and have used AI to research suitable Vietnamese words of welcome to include. I understand a small basket of fresh fruit is a traditional gift so will give one with the card.
I’d like to ask my neighbours (4 retired couples and 3 older ladies) if they’d like me to add their names to the card with their house numbers. But…. Should I? I’d like to but I’m worried that I might stir up a hornet’s nest!
What’s your advice please?

Sago Mon 17-Aug-26 15:49:36

No, it is up to the other neighbours to decide if they wish to give cards b

welbeck Mon 17-Aug-26 15:52:55

No don't. Too risky.
Might get complicated.
Just write
Welcome to Acacia Avenue.
Anything I can help you with please call at No. 9. Bluey.

mumofmadboys Mon 17-Aug-26 15:53:16

I agree - just send it from yourself.

Grandmafrench Mon 17-Aug-26 16:01:43

You’ve possibly answered your own question! Just one not very keen response to your very thoughtful gesture might manage to ruin it for you. I’d suggest you let your neighbours make their own moves - much safer and would avoid you being thought of as the organizer of a welcoming committee for people they might not have met yet. But 💐 to you for being a very nice neighbour!

Luckygirl3 Mon 17-Aug-26 16:07:28

I think you should do your own thing and continue with your kind gesture just from you.

Chocolatelovinggran Mon 17-Aug-26 16:31:43

I agree with the others here, Bluebell.
Your thoughtful gesture should come from you only.

BluebellGran Mon 17-Aug-26 16:53:03

Well, thanks Grans for your advice. I’ll send the card and fruit from myself and my husband offering help if they need it.
I can’t help but myself in their place.

Oreo Mon 17-Aug-26 17:04:53

welbeck

No don't. Too risky.
Might get complicated.
Just write
Welcome to Acacia Avenue.
Anything I can help you with please call at No. 9. Bluey.

Good advice👍🏻

ViceVersa Mon 17-Aug-26 17:13:34

I think it's a lovely idea, and one which will be much appreciated by your new neighbours, but as others have said, I would keep it just from yourself.

Astitchintime Mon 17-Aug-26 17:18:39

Write it just from yourself and perhaps include some local information, post office, chemists etc.

Shelflife Mon 17-Aug-26 22:20:21

I agree with the advice that has been given. Your kindness towards your new neighbours will be appreciated.

madeleine45 Mon 17-Aug-26 23:20:53

I agree about the card, think it would be better to send your own card, and let others make their own efforts. But having moved a great deal here and abroad, I think it would be appreciated if you got a little collection of information together and offered it to them.

So .whenever I moved , I would always go to the library, because not only can you enrol , and make use of all the things on offer there, but they usually have the up to date address and phone and email of all the clubs and societies in the area, So if they already have some interest such as gardening or whatever, it will give them good introduction to what is available there. Also the libraries often have up to date notices for things going on. If you have a useful bus route to a local shopping centre, you could give them a bus timetable, and if you have a local paper, you could get them a copy, as again it will have a whole load of information from what is happening, and often has reports on clubs and what is generally going on locally. Another thing you might do is tell them the way to places like local butcher, baker or whatever, and where the doctors surgery is.

We all have our own preferences, but for the first couple of weeks it is very helpful to have a recommendation, for trustworthy places, such as good garage or handy man etc.

I am not suggesting you should do it all at once , but this kind of thing is much appreciated and also perhaps any cafes or pubs that you might know are good, as whenever you are moving there is so much to do, that you get exhausted and to be able to get fish and chips or a pub sunday lunch nearby, is worth knowing about.

Actually as I was used to moving a lot, when selling my own houses, I used to have a little notebook, and write in it all this sort of information, plus contacts for any plumbers, central heating installers, that we had used. plus I used to do a little plan of the garden showing where things were growing etc. It was always gratefully received for that first bit when you dont know where anyone or anything is. This probably sounds too much all at once, but I am just flagging up some of the possibilities that you might like to consider.

It is very nice to be a welcoming new neighbour and I hope all goes well for them and you.

nanna8 Tue 18-Aug-26 00:46:29

Just send your own card because it is really up to your neighbours to welcome them personally. My hairdresser is Vietnamese ( a lot of Vietnamese people settled here after the Vietnam war) and we have lovely chats. Vietnam is an interesting, fascinating country, we’ve been there several times and done trips up the Mekong up to Cambodia.

BluebellGran Tue 18-Aug-26 09:00:24

Thank you all, especially madeleine45. Such good ideas re library, bus timetables etc. They’ll need someone to tame their totally overgrown garden too!

Dizzyribs Tue 18-Aug-26 13:48:44

I agree that it’s better just coming from you. It will help them to know that you are a good point of contact and support. Having one person who they are sure is willing to help is much easier in the early days and saves them the dilemma of which person to ask.
I love the idea of a little welcoming list of nearest bus to town, local library, supermarket and corner shops. I’d also add things like the bin and recycling days and what each bin takes. That’s really confusing because each area has different colours and requirements and getting it wrong is a real pain!

Estrellita Tue 18-Aug-26 15:25:27

I agree with previous answers. Just send it from yourself.

Aspideratemysaddle Tue 18-Aug-26 15:40:30

Definitely not. They may not want to but are too embarrassed to say no.

vickymeldrew Wed 19-Aug-26 07:44:32

It’s lovely that you are so welcoming and friendly. However, when new people have moved into your road before have you always welcomed them in a similar way?
You seem to be focusing the welcome on them being Vietnamese and may be under estimating their existing local know ledge. Be careful not to come across as patronising.