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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Returning to the Homeland of Gò Nổi The New Land Has Finally Turned Green (*) Last Sunday, while cycling to Duy Vinh, I checked in at the Do Do village featured in Nguyễn Nhật Ánh’s Mắt Biếc when, passing by Cau Lau Bridge, I caught sight of Gò Nổi in the middle of the Thu Bồn River. That image made …

Last week, while cycling to Duy Vinh, I passed by some old brick kilns and snapped a few photos to post on Facebook. A friend commented, asking if I had visited Nồi Rang Market. The unusual name immediately piqued my curiosity, so I googled it and decided to organize a weekend cycling trip with a few friends to explore it. …

That day, while cycling to Tien Sa Port, I visited the Espanol Cemetery and happened to discover an abandoned church on Sơn Trà Mountain (Monkey Mountain), less than 100 meters away from the cemetery. Surprisingly, thousands of results can be found on Google containing information related to “Espanol cemetery”, “Spanish cemetery” or “Ossuaire” but almost no information can be found …

QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, I hope you are doing well. I have a small query regarding document presentation and payment instructions. We are the beneficiary bank, acting as the Presenting Bank. The beneficiary submitted documents to us for forwarding to the nominated bank for negotiation, as the LC restricts negotiation to the nominated bank. When forwarding the documents, we …