QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, I’m new to international trade and arranging Letters of Credit (L/C). My previous transactions were either local or based on strong personal recommendations with overseas partners. Now, I’m looking to import used car batteries (scrap metal) through a contact I found online, and I want to ensure that payment is arranged in the most secure …

The Dreamy Eyes Craze In late 2019, the Vietnamese film Mắt Biếc (Dreamy Eyes), directed by Victor Vũ and adapted from the beloved novel by Nguyễn Nhật Ánh, hit cinemas and quickly became a cultural phenomenon—especially among fans of the original book. Soon after, a new travel trend took off: fans of the film began flocking to check in at the …

Riding a Familiar Road, Yet Never the Same I’ve returned to this route dozens of times—sometimes solo, sometimes with friends. But among all those rides, one stands out in my memory: the day I pedaled through the La Sơn–Túy Loan expressway cutting across Bạch Mã National Park, right in the middle of its construction phase. Back then, convoys of trucks …

In Search of a Hidden Path to Hòa Vân Village This morning, I set off with a friend to revisit a rugged trail along the southern side of the Hải Vân Pass. The plan was to explore a little-known path that, according to my gut (and a bit of Mr. Old Man intuition), might lead down to the beach near …

— A Bicycle, a Field, and a Moment in Time — A Chance Encounter Exactly ten years ago, I pedaled into Truong Dinh Hamlet and stumbled upon a group of kids playing tag on a rice field, freshly cleared after harvest. Curious Eyes and a Light Bike When they saw a stranger stop his bicycle by the roadside, their curiosity …

With a population of around 17.4 million people and a staggering 25 million bicycles, along with a world-class cycling infrastructure, the Netherlands rightfully holds the title of the number one cycling nation in the world. Amsterdam, the capital city, truly is a cycling paradise where bikes seem to dominate the streets. In Amsterdam, you’ll see cyclists enjoying absolute freedom — …

By Mr. Old Man Getting lost, but finding a bond I still remember my first time, about ten years ago, when I biked to Ngầm Đôi. On the way back, sun-drunk and disoriented, I somehow ended up all the way in Đông Giang. That “accidental” detour turned into a quiet bond. Every now and then, the memory calls me back—back …

The gate of Vân Village. A place of memories beneath Hải Vân Pass I still call Hòa Vân leprosy village – or simply Vân Village – nestled at the foot of Hải Vân Pass, “the lost village.” Today, it’s little more than a ruin: crumbling houses, moss-covered walls, and weeds reclaiming the ground. Nearly a decade ago, with support from …

From dreamy fiction to countryside reality By Mr. Old Man Photo: Đinh Hồng Ân Last week, Dreamy Eyes (Mắt biếc)—the latest film by director Victor Vũ—sparked a wave of nostalgia and curiosity among young viewers. Adapted from Nguyễn Nhật Ánh’s beloved novel, the film takes place in the fictional village of Đo Đo, also the author’s real-life hometown, and the …

By Mr. Old Man When people hear about Tà Lang– Giàn Bí Stream, they often imagine a remote and hard-to-reach place. But in truth, Tà Lang isn’t far at all. It’s a small mountain village home to the Cơ Tu ethnic community, located just 35 km west of downtown Đà Nẵng. You can cycle to Tà Lang – Giàn Bí …