QUESTION Dear Sir, If I receive a Letter of Credit (LC) advised to me with the clause “Available by negotiation at any bank; At Sight,” is my next step to ask my bank whether it will act as the negotiating bank, and request a written confirmation if it agrees? I understand that a nominated bank has no obligation to negotiate …

A memory kept quiet for half a century, and still echoing through time. Illustration photo A Message Beneath the Photo Last week, I posted a picture from a bike ride over the misty curves of Hải Vân Pass. Beneath it, a quiet comment appeared. It was from R.I., an American who had once crossed that very road—in the 1970s—when he …

From Forgotten Landmark to Trending Spot The old brick kiln, long abandoned in the middle of the Duy Vinh rice fields, suddenly shot to fame after young travel enthusiasts discovered it and began sharing photos on Facebook. Recently, a young woman with an eye for quirky business ideas seized the opportunity—not only to earn money but to pursue her passion. …

By Mr. Old Man A Farewell Ride Before the Silence This morning, I pedaled out with a few companions for one last ride along the La Son – Tuy Loan expressway before it officially opens to traffic this June. At Km 36, just as the road slips into the emerald realm of Bach Ma National Park, we paused atop the …

QUESTION Dear My Friend, We hope my email finds you well. I need your opinion regarding the assignment of proceeds under a documentary credit. Is it subject to the expiry date? Thanks for your support. Firas Jawad ________ ANSWER Hi Firas, Thank you for your interesting question. Article 39 of the UCP 600 deals with the assignment of proceeds. It …

QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, I have a case to seek your advice. Our bank has forwarded 6 sets of D/P(s) for USD525,000 to a bank in Egypt with the instructions “Release Documents against Payment”. After many payment tracers, the collecting bank replied that all sets of D/P have been released against 30 days, 60 days, 120 days…from health approval …

QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, I have two questions regarding transferable LCs: When the second beneficiary presents complying documents to the transferring bank, is that bank obligated to pay the second beneficiary immediately? Or must it wait until the documents are forwarded to the issuing bank and payment is received before settling with the second beneficiary? Are the sets of …

QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, I have an exporter client who wishes to proceed with a documentary collection (D/P – Documents against Payment) transaction. However, the buyer only maintains an account with a finance company—not a bank. I’m unsure whether a finance company can legally or practically act as a collecting bank under URC 522. If it can, on what …

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 …