KHÁM PHÁ “KHÁCH SẠN MA” TRÊN ĐÈO HẢI VÂN (Update) —————————————————- Update: “Khám phá ‘khách sạn ma’ trên đèo Hải Vân” được Mr. Old Man viết cách đây 4 năm trong một lần đạp xe qua đèo Hải Vân. Bài viết không chỉ kể về một trải nghiệm khám phá mà còn một đề xuất ý tưởng “khùng điên” – khôi phục lại khách sạn bỏ hoang, tạo ra một … Read More
DRAFTS AND NOMINATED BANK UNDER LETTERS OF CREDIT SUBJECT TO UCP 600 QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, I seek your guidance on international trade practices concerning drafts in Letters of Credit (LC) transactions: 1. Under what terms of an LC is the presentation of a draft required? 2. Clarification on the role of a Nominated Bank: If an LC is available with Bank A for negotiation, how should the nominated bank be … Read More
GHÉ THĂM QUÁN MÍT HÔNG BÀ NAM – KÝ ỨC VỀ MỘT MÓN QUÊ Bốn năm trước, trong chuyến đạp xe đến Tam Kỳ để thưởng thức món mít hông trứ danh, tôi có dịp ghé quán của bà Nam. Khi ấy, tôi ngồi trò chuyện cùng bà và các cô con gái về món ăn vặt dân dã của xứ Quảng. Câu chuyện thú vị đến mức, về nhà, tôi còn viết một … Read More
CHECK-IN AT GIANT TURTLE ROCK Along the celestial road that winds through Hai Van Pass, travelers can pause at various spots to marvel at the majestic pass—once honored by Emperor Minh Mang as “The world’s most majestic pass”. Among these stops, one place stands out: Giant Turtle Rock. About 6 km from the foot of Hai Van Pass, a row of hillside cafés clings precariously … Read More
CYCLING TO VISIT TRA KIEU PARISH It was a beautiful day when I set out on an 80 km cycling trip to visit Tra Kieu Parish, one of the oldest parishes in the Vietnamese Catholic Church, established around 1630, shortly after Hoi An Parish. Located 40 km southwest of Da Nang, Tra Kieu Parish, also known as the Tra Kieu Marian Center, is an important pilgrimage … Read More
CYCLING ALONE IS REALLY EXCITING Riding a bike with friends is fun, but cycling alone amidst vast mountains and forests has its own unique charm—it’s like listening to your inner voice, facing yourself, and understanding who you truly are. Pedaling solo on deserted roads, with not a soul in sight, brings an unusual mix of emotions: a touch of excitement, a hint of melancholy, a … Read More
EXPLORING THE SPLENDOR OF THE DON CA ARCH BRIDGE AT HAI VAN PASS Golden sunlight spills across The Don Ca Bridge’s timeless arch, Its classic curve draped in moss— A patina of days long passed. Along the legendary Hai Van Pass, you might casually glimpse, tucked beneath the northern foothills where the pass meets the sea, a classic-style bridge built by the French over a hundred years ago—the Don Ca Arch Bridge. Situated … Read More
ENJOYING TẾT IN TÂY GIANG* ENJOYING TẾT IN TÂY GIANG* On Tet morning, I woke up beside a long-extinguished stove, and through the window, darkness still reigned except for a faint light from the small electric lamp atop the flagpole at Pơloong Plênh’s house. The incessant chorus of croaking frogs filled the air. Last night, two of my companions had been drinking with some Cơtu … Read More
BOOM BOOM ROCK More than 50 years have passed since the Americans withdrew from Monkey Mountain (the Son Tra Peninsula, Da Nang, Vietnam). The landscape has changed dramatically, and hardly anyone remembers Boom Boom Rock anymore—or if they do, they assume it no longer exists. Yet, Boom Boom Rock still stands there in perfect condition, hidden amid dense foliage, as if silently waiting … Read More
NAMAZU – THE HOÀI RIVER MONSTER That Sunday morning, I embarked on a century ride—cycling from Da Nang through Hội An to Linh Ứng Pagoda on the Son Trà Peninsula—and completed exactly 100 km after passing Red Beach and returning home. Arriving in Hội An before 6 a.m., with mist shrouding every corner and sleepy boats drifting along the Hoài River, I was startled to discover … Read More