Mr. Old Man For those who eat, sleep and breathe Letters of Credit & Cycling

I have often braved the steep, grueling slopes—some with inclines exceeding 20%—on the Sơn Trà Peninsula to visit the ancient Tiên Sa Lighthouse, a challenging check-in spot for many cycling enthusiasts. Perched at an altitude of 223 meters above sea level, with a vast primeval forest on one side and the endless blue ocean on the other, Tiên Sa Lighthouse …

On the north-south highway, when descending the Hải Vân Pass towards the south, travelers can spot a small forest surrounded by golden-brown rocky cliffs glistening under the sun. From one angle, the forest resembles a phoenix spreading its wings over the sea; from another, it looks like an ancient, million-year-old turtle. This is the Nam Ô Forbidden Forest, steeped in …

Six years ago, I attempted to reach an abandoned village hidden along a deserted beach by carrying my bicycle down from the Hai Van Pass. This village was once a refuge for people suffering from leprosy. However, I was disappointed—I lacked the strength and courage to navigate the jagged cliffs jutting into the sea, where waves relentlessly crashed against the …

Located about 35 km west of Da Nang city center, the Million-Year Rock Field  sits at the confluence of the Nam and Bac rivers, which form the Cu De River. Nestled in Ta Lang village, Hoa Bac commune, Hoa Vang district, this breathtaking natural wonder will leave you in awe with its mesmerizing beauty. This stunning landscape is a true …

Mr. Old Man borrows the title of the song Cô Đơn Trên Sofa (Lonely on the Sofa) to talk about Trần Mai, the female cyclist taking on the Monkey Mountain Challenge 2025. However, unlike Hồ Ngọc Hà’s song, where loneliness stems from a broken heart, Trần Mai is “lonely” because she dominates the Vietnam mountain climbing leaderboard, leaving all other …

Already owning a road bike, a mountain bike, and a touring bike, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by those charming folding bikes I often saw around town. The idea of having one to casually ride around the city for coffee meetups or conveniently store in my car for spontaneous trips sounded incredibly appealing. However, choosing the right folding bike …

Trúc Lâm Bạch Mã Zen Monastery is perched atop Linh Sơn Mountain, nestled within the tranquil waters of Tỉnh Giác Lake in Truồi, located in Lộc Hòa Commune, Phú Lộc District, Thừa Thiên Huế Province. It is the first Zen monastery in Central Vietnam, founded and developed by Zen Master Thích Thanh Từ, the head of the Trúc Lâm Zen …

Nestled among pine forests on the south of Hải Vân Pass, a small hotel has been abandoned for years, for reasons unknown. On rainy, gloomy days, when the sky is shrouded in mist, its desolate and eerie appearance easily evokes images of “haunted hotels” from Hollywood horror movies in the minds of those with vivid imaginations. This morning, amidst the …

—————————————————- Update: “Khám phá ‘khách sạn ma’ trên đèo Hải Vân” được Mr. Old Man viết cách đây 4 năm trong một lần đạp xe qua đèo Hải Vân. Bài viết không chỉ kể về một trải nghiệm khám phá mà còn một đề xuất ý tưởng “khùng điên” – khôi phục lại khách sạn bỏ hoang, tạo ra một …

QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, I seek your guidance on international trade practices concerning drafts in Letters of Credit (LC) transactions: 1. Under what terms of an LC is the presentation of a draft required? 2. Clarification on the role of a Nominated Bank: If an LC is available with Bank A for negotiation, how should the nominated bank be …