Many years ago, when Mr. Old Man was still strong enough to cycle from mountains to sea, wandering through rural landscapes in search of simple yet meaningful things, Nồi Rang Market was one of those memorable stops. That journey later became an article titled “Discovering Rural Charm: Cycling to Nồi Rang Market”, published on Mr. Old Man’s blog. (For those …

Intro Most LC transactions pass quietly, exactly as they should. But every now and then, a set of documents raises a different kind of question—one that no banker enjoys facing. This Q&A revisits how banks should respond when presented documents turn out to be forged, and why the answer is rarely as straightforward as the rules suggest.  Question Dear Mr. …

Transferable LCs often look straightforward—but once you get into the details, they rarely are. When money is involved, two questions always come up: who gets paid, and when? And are we really dealing with two independent sets of documents? Let’s keep it simple. QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, I have two questions regarding transferable letters of credit: When the second …

Mấy hôm trước, Mr. Old Man có dịp trở lại chợ Nồi Rang — một ngôi chợ quê mang cái tên mộc mạc đã có từ mấy trăm năm. Lần trở lại này, Mr. Old Man mang theo một món quà đặc biệt. Một tấm ảnh khổ lớn, lồng khung chỉn chu — chụp cô hàng bánh xèo, người sáu …

In documentary credit practice, transport documents often come with different titles that can make examiners uneasy. One common example is the “House Air Waybill.” Does its title alone justify a discrepancy? Let’s take a closer look. QUESTION Dear Sir, We have asked for airway bill only. However, we have received an airway bill titled “House Air Waybill”. Can we raise …

A recurring question in document examination is whether the flexibility allowed by ISBP on language may, in practice, create more problems than it solves—especially in an era of AI-driven translations. QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, ISBP 821 A21(b) states that when a credit is silent regarding the language of documents, they may be issued in any language. In practice, could …

Yesterday morning, I woke up early and caught the 6 a.m. bus to Hội An. Barely had I settled into my seat when a clear, gentle singing voice floated from behind. For a moment, I thought it must be some young girl adding a little poetry to the morning. I turned around… and found an elderly lady. Without thinking, I …

Sáng nay, Mr. Old Man dậy sớm, bắt chuyến xe buýt đi Hội An lúc sáu giờ kém. Chưa kịp ngồi ấm chỗ thì phía sau đã vang lên một giọng hát trong veo. Nghe mà cứ tưởng em gái nào đó đang ngân nga cho buổi sáng thêm thi vị. Ngoảnh lại… ồ, hóa ra là một bà cụ. …

When a bill of lading shows one party as shipper “on behalf of” another, a simple but important question arises: who is entitled to endorse the document? This issue becomes critical under a letter of credit, where a mismatch between the named shipper and the endorser can lead to refusal—even when the underlying trade arrangement is perfectly normal. Question Dear …

Nhiều năm trước, khi Mr. Old Man còn đủ sức đạp xe lên rừng xuống biển, rong ruổi qua bao nhiêu miền quê để tìm những điều giản dị mà thú vị, thì chợ Nồi Rang là một trong những điểm dừng chân đáng nhớ. Chuyến đi ấy sau này thành bài “Đi chợ Nồi Rang” đăng trên Vietcombank Newsletter. …