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 …

Why People Ask Many beginners come into cycling hoping for a better physique. Mr. Old Man often hears questions like: “I’m 1.7 m tall and 60 kg, but my legs are thin. Will cycling bulk them up?” “I’m 1.65 m, weigh 70 kg, and have a belly. Will cycling help me slim down?” “My body feels out of shape. Can …

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 …

QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, I have 2 questions that need your expertise clarification: 1/ Does the act of endorsement of drafts by the LC beneficiary to presenting bank mean the transfer of beneficial right? 2/ Must the beneficiary endorse the draft to the presenting bank to authorize it  to claim reimbursement/payment from the issuing bank? Thank you so much …

QUESTION Hi Mr. Old Man, Our bank presented documents under a Letter of Credit that had already expired. The issuing bank replied, saying that since the L/C had expired, they would treat the documents as a collection. Two weeks later, they messaged again to say they had released the documents to the applicant upon acceptance, and payment would be made …

— 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 …

QUESTION Hi, An LC for USD 1,000,000 is issued with these key terms: Usance LC: 180 days from date of negotiation 41D: Available with any bank in the beneficiary’s country by negotiation 71D: All charges are on account of the applicant The beneficiary asks the negotiating bank to discount the bill at 3% per annum. Who is responsible for paying …

QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, Our bank issued a deferred payment L/C. The documents presented were fully compliant. Upon confirming compliance, our bank incurred its deferred payment undertaking and notified the foreign bank accordingly. The buyer accepted the obligation to pay on the due date and received the documents to collect the goods. However, when the goods were received, they …

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 — …