The gate of Vân Village. A place of memories beneath Hải Vân Pass I still call Hòa Vân leprosy village – or simply Vân Village – nestled at the foot of Hải Vân Pass, “the lost village.” Today, it’s little more than a ruin: crumbling houses, moss-covered walls, and weeds reclaiming the ground. Nearly a decade ago, with support from …

By Mr. Old Man When people hear about Tà Lang– Giàn Bí Stream, they often imagine a remote and hard-to-reach place. But in truth, Tà Lang isn’t far at all. It’s a small mountain village home to the Cơ Tu ethnic community, located just 35 km west of downtown Đà Nẵng. You can cycle to Tà Lang – Giàn Bí …

By Mr. Old Man After the Covid-19 pandemic, many people turned to cycling as a way to stay fit, and bike shops became busier than ever. In the rush to get a bike, some folks walk into a shop, ask a couple of quick questions, then pay and ride off with their new wheels—only to regret it later when the …

By Mr. Old Man A Hidden Gem on the Cycling Trail As part of my journey to explore over 50 parish churches and chapels within the Diocese of Da Nang, I had the pleasure of visiting Tung Son Chapel—a hidden architectural treasure belonging to Phu Thuong Parish. Located in Tung Son Hamlet, Hoa Son Commune, Hoa Vang District, this chapel …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …