A MORNING VISIT TO HOA NINH PARISH CHURCH ON THE WAY TO BA NA HILLS By Mr. Old Man On a beautiful morning ride to Ba Na Hills, I took a spontaneous turn and stopped by Hoa Ninh Parish Church—a peaceful stop that brought back a wave of emotions and memories. Located in Hoa Ninh commune, Hoa Vang district, Da Nang city, Hoa Ninh Parish Church was established in 1938. Compared to other churches in … Read More
DONG DUONG BUDDHIST MONASTERY – A SPECIAL NATIONAL HERITAGE SITE By Mr. Old Man Where History and Ruins Whisper Stories of Champa Buddhism Located in Dong Duong village, Binh Dinh Bac commune, Thang Binh district, Quang Nam province, Dong Duong Monastery was recognized as a Special National Heritage Site by the Prime Minister of Vietnam on December 22, 2016. This site once housed the largest Buddhist monastery of the Champa … Read More
MONKEY MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE 2025 UPDATE: LẠI MỘT MÌNH MỘT NGỰA Bước sang tháng Tư, Trần Mai vẫn đều đặn đạp xe leo lên đỉnh Khỉ Già, nâng tổng độ cao sau 4 tháng lên hơn 85.000 mét — bỏ xa cua rơ chuyên leo núi ở Lâm Đồng và cua-rơ ở Hải Phòng chuyên leo núi ảo trên Zwift đến hơn 25.000 mét, tiếp tục đứng đầu bảng leo núi … Read More
HOA TRUNG IN THE DRY SEASON About 25 kilometers west of downtown Da Nang lies Hoa Trung Lake, a man-made reservoir constructed after the reunification of Vietnam in 1975. It serves as an irrigation source for the agricultural lands of Hoa Lien and Hoa Son communes. During the summer months, typically from July to September, the lake’s water recedes, revealing shimmering islets and vast stretches of … Read More
Gazing Toward Hon Kem Da Dung A Journey That Didn’t Quite Go as Planned The Call of an Old Folk Song “Gazing up at Hon Kem Da Dung, Missing my father, longing for my mother, dear darling. If you miss your parents, go home, But if it’s just longing for trees and the old hometown, best stay away.” The old folk song echoed in my mind … Read More
A Day Wandering Through the Catholic Heartland of Hoa Son Tracing Memories at An Ngai Parish Church Hoa Son – A Quiet Land Where Faith Runs Deep There are journeys you plan, and then there are journeys that find you. That morning, with no map and no real destination, I set off on my bike, following the call of the open road. It led me to Hoa Son — a … Read More
SHOULD YOU BUY A ROAD BIKE OR A MOUNTAIN BIKE? Lately, a bunch of cycling newbies have been pulling me aside asking the classic question: “Should I buy a Road Bike or a Mountain Bike (MTB)?” To give a proper answer, I usually fire back with a few simple — but critical — questions: Where do you live? What’s your purpose for cycling? (fitness, exploration, speed?) How much are you … Read More
BACK TO GÒ NỔI AGAIN By Mr. Old Man It’s been just over a month, and yet I’ve found myself back in Gò Nổi for the third time — each visit with a few good friends and a fresh sense of curiosity. This time, the plan was to head straight out to the “cow prairie” in Điện Quang, but the weather had its own ideas. … Read More
HÒA BẮC – A PEACEFUL COUNTRYSIDE PAINTED BY NATURE ITSELF By Mr. Old Man Just 25 km west of Đà Nẵng lies Hòa Bắc — a tranquil slice of countryside so beautiful, it looks like it was brushed into existence by an artist’s hand. From the hillside road, you can look down and see the small villages of Trường Định, An Định, Nam Yên, and Phò Nam nestling together in … Read More
Cycling Back to the Ancient Banyan Tree This morning, I took on the climb up Sơn Trà to test my mountain biking legs — part of my plan to requalify for my long-expired Class FE cycling license (*). Along the way, I made a nostalgic stop at the old Tiên Sa Lighthouse, still standing proud above the sea. I also dropped by the legendary Cây Đa Ngàn … Read More