NAM Ô FORBIDDEN FOREST & THE LEGEND OF PRINCESS HUYỀN TRÂN On the north-south highway, when descending the Hải Vân Pass towards the south, travelers can spot a small forest surrounded by golden-brown rocky cliffs glistening under the sun. From one angle, the forest resembles a phoenix spreading its wings over the sea; from another, it looks like an ancient, million-year-old turtle. This is the Nam Ô Forbidden Forest, steeped in … Read More
RETURNING TO THE LOST VILLAGE Six years ago, I attempted to reach an abandoned village hidden along a deserted beach by carrying my bicycle down from the Hai Van Pass. This village was once a refuge for people suffering from leprosy. However, I was disappointed—I lacked the strength and courage to navigate the jagged cliffs jutting into the sea, where waves relentlessly crashed against the … Read More
DA NANG, DON’T LOSE THE MILLION-YEAR ROCK FIELD AGAIN Located about 35 km west of Da Nang city center, the Million-Year Rock Field sits at the confluence of the Nam and Bac rivers, which form the Cu De River. Nestled in Ta Lang village, Hoa Bac commune, Hoa Vang district, this breathtaking natural wonder will leave you in awe with its mesmerizing beauty. This stunning landscape is a true … Read More
MONKEY MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE 2025 UPDATE: LONELY ON THE SOFA Mr. Old Man borrows the title of the song Cô Đơn Trên Sofa (Lonely on the Sofa) to talk about Trần Mai, the female cyclist taking on the Monkey Mountain Challenge 2025. However, unlike Hồ Ngọc Hà’s song, where loneliness stems from a broken heart, Trần Mai is “lonely” because she dominates the Vietnam mountain climbing leaderboard, leaving all other … Read More
WHO RIDES FOLDING BIKES? Already owning a road bike, a mountain bike, and a touring bike, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by those charming folding bikes I often saw around town. The idea of having one to casually ride around the city for coffee meetups or conveniently store in my car for spontaneous trips sounded incredibly appealing. However, choosing the right folding bike … Read More
TRÚC LÂM BẠCH MÃ ZEN MONASTERY – A CELESTIAL HAVEN Trúc Lâm Bạch Mã Zen Monastery is perched atop Linh Sơn Mountain, nestled within the tranquil waters of Tỉnh Giác Lake in Truồi, located in Lộc Hòa Commune, Phú Lộc District, Thừa Thiên Huế Province. It is the first Zen monastery in Central Vietnam, founded and developed by Zen Master Thích Thanh Từ, the head of the Trúc Lâm Zen … Read More
EXPLORING THE “HAUNTED HOTEL” ON HẢI VÂN PASS Nestled among pine forests on the south of Hải Vân Pass, a small hotel has been abandoned for years, for reasons unknown. On rainy, gloomy days, when the sky is shrouded in mist, its desolate and eerie appearance easily evokes images of “haunted hotels” from Hollywood horror movies in the minds of those with vivid imaginations. This morning, amidst the … Read More
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