Mr Old Man PARTIAL SHIPMENTS UNDER SUB-ARTICLE 31 (B) QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, LC does not allow partial shipments. Documents were presented to the issuing bank in two separate covering schedules. The first set reached the issuing bank’s counter on 5 O… Read More
Articles Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being withou… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
RETIREMENT AND PLANS THAT NEVER REALLY RETIRE 17 Jan 2026 A Korean friend of mine — a senior legal expert at a major bank — recently sent me a long email, sharing all sorts of life stories. But in the end, everything came down to one simple point: his contract has just been extended for another year. What happens after that is uncertain, because he has already turned 66 — …
NGHỈ HƯU VÀ NHỮNG CÁI PLAN… KHÔNG NGHỈ 16 Jan 2026 Anh bạn người Hàn Quốc – chuyên gia pháp lý cao cấp tại một ngân hàng lớn – mới gửi cho Mr. Old Man một email dài, tâm sự đủ chuyện. Nhưng tựu trung lại chỉ xoay quanh một việc: anh vừa được ngân hàng gia hạn hợp đồng thêm một năm, còn năm sau thì chưa chắc, vì anh …
CAN A BANK ISSUE A PHYSICAL BANK GUARANTEE WITHOUT LOCAL PRESENCE? 16 Jan 2026 INTRO In practice, bank guarantees are often treated as if they must be issued or advised through a local bank in the beneficiary’s country. This assumption frequently leads to confusion between legal possibility and market or tender requirements, especially when physical bank guarantees are involved. The following question raises a simple but important issue: Can a bank issue a physical …
Về già nên ở phố hay ở quê? 15 Jan 2026 Lướt Facebook dạo này, thỉnh thoảng Mr. Old Man lại thấy nhiều bạn trung niên chia sẻ hình ảnh một ngôi nhà gỗ xinh xinh trên đồi, lối đi hai bên là hàng hồng nở rộ. Hoặc một khu vườn ngập nắng, gọn gàng, có rau, có hoa, có ao cá, có… đủ thứ nhìn rất đáng ước mơ. Không …
How to Calculate “Within 21 Days of Shipment” under ISBP 821 14 Jan 2026 Intro Time calculations under Letters of Credit often look simple, yet the word “within” continues to cause confusion — especially when readers focus on the example given in ISBP 821 paragraph A14(b)(i) and wonder whether the permitted period should extend both before and after the shipment date. The following Q&A addresses a very practical question: When an LC requires documents …
“Discrepancy Traps” in Letters of Credit: Should Beneficiaries Hold Their Ground? 14 Jan 2026 Intro From time to time, beneficiaries find themselves facing draft Letters of Credit containing conditions that appear unnecessary, impractical, or even deliberately risky. Are these merely poor drafting practices, or are they “discrepancy traps” waiting to happen? In the following exchange, Mr. Old Man shares his views on how sellers should respond when confronted with such LCs — and why …
Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being without a mobile phone or being unable to use it. When Mr. Old Man was studying English some decades ago, this word did not exist … Read More
Nomophobia – Hội Chứng Sợ Không Có Điện Thoại Hôm nay lướt Facebook, Mr. Old Man bắt gặp một từ tiếng Anh khá lạ: nomophobia. Ví dụ minh họa đi kèm rất dễ hiểu: “Many teenagers experience nomophobia when they forget their phones at home.” Tạm dịch: “Nhiều bạn trẻ trải qua hội chứng sợ không có điện thoại khi để quên điện thoại ở nhà.” Nomophobia được hiểu … Read More
Tắm Vitamin D (phần 2): Thay đổi quan điểm Hồi đầu tháng 5, Mr. Old Man từng viết bài “Tắm Vitamin D”, kể lại cảnh buổi sáng ở bãi biển Thanh Khê có nhiều cô chú lớn tuổi vùi mình dưới cát, nằm phơi nắng để “nạp Vitamin D” – theo cách nói vui của các cô chú là để tăng sức đề kháng, giảm đau lưng, đau chân, … Read More
Can an Issuing Bank Advise an LC Directly to the Beneficiary? One of the fundamental safeguards in documentary credits is the authentication process performed by an advising bank. But what happens if an issuing bank sends the LC directly to the beneficiary without involving an advising bank? Is this permissible under UCP 600, and what risks should the parties consider? Let’s look at a question from Gerson Mário. Question Dear Mr. … Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading? In international trade, many disputes arise not because parties misunderstand UCP 600, but because they mix up legal requirements with commercial practices. A reader recently asked Mr. Old Man about two common concerns in timber imports from Africa: whether the L/C expiry date must be linked to the shipping transit time, and whether removing the word “Clean” from “Clean On … Read More
Does Field 39A Cover Quantity Tolerance? A reader recently sent Mr. Old Man an interesting question about quantity tolerance under an L/C. The issue sounds simple at first glance, but in practice it often creates confusion between sales contract terms, the wording of the credit, and the application of UCP 600 Article 30. Here is the question and discussion. Question Dear Mr. Old Man, I would … Read More
CAN A COMMERCIAL INVOICE EXCEED THE LC AMOUNT? One area that occasionally causes confusion under UCP 600 is the relationship between Article 18(b) and Article 30(a). Many practitioners assume that a commercial invoice may exceed the LC amount only where the credit expressly allows a tolerance, or where the words “about” or “approximately” are used in connection with the credit amount under Article 30(a). However, Article 18(b) provides … Read More
Đừng để “ngoại ngữ” thành… “ngại ngữ” Hôm nay một bạn hiện đang định cư ở Mỹ đăng tút khoe đang tập nói tiếng Anh. Bạn lớn tuổi rồi mới bắt đầu học nói nên giọng còn ngọng nghịu, nghe chưa rõ lắm. Nhưng Mr. Old Man thấy vậy lại quý. Ở tuổi đó mà vẫn chịu khó mở miệng học cái mới đã đáng nể rồi. … Read More
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM? Lading (CPBL), and freight notations on the bill of lading. If a credit is issued under CFR terms, should the bill of lading necessarily indicate “Freight Prepaid”? And if the LC instead requires “Freight Payable as per Charter Party”, would that create a discrepancy or inconsistency with the stated Incoterm? This Q&A discusses the difference between documentary compliance under UCP … Read More
GROWING OLD: WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF US? Mr. Old Man occasionally reads the Perspective section on VNExpress and genuinely enjoys it. True to its name, Perspective is often not a playground for professional journalists, but a place where people who have spent years bumping into life share their experiences, observations, and thoughts. Today, Mr. Old Man read an article titled “When We Grow Old, Who Will Support … Read More
Articles Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being withou… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Articles Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being withou… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being without a mobile phone or being unable to use it. When Mr. Old Man was studying English some decades ago, this word did not exist … Read More
Nomophobia – Hội Chứng Sợ Không Có Điện Thoại Hôm nay lướt Facebook, Mr. Old Man bắt gặp một từ tiếng Anh khá lạ: nomophobia. Ví dụ minh họa đi kèm rất dễ hiểu: “Many teenagers experience nomophobia when they forget their phones at home.” Tạm dịch: “Nhiều bạn trẻ trải qua hội chứng sợ không có điện thoại khi để quên điện thoại ở nhà.” Nomophobia được hiểu … Read More
Tắm Vitamin D (phần 2): Thay đổi quan điểm Hồi đầu tháng 5, Mr. Old Man từng viết bài “Tắm Vitamin D”, kể lại cảnh buổi sáng ở bãi biển Thanh Khê có nhiều cô chú lớn tuổi vùi mình dưới cát, nằm phơi nắng để “nạp Vitamin D” – theo cách nói vui của các cô chú là để tăng sức đề kháng, giảm đau lưng, đau chân, … Read More
Can an Issuing Bank Advise an LC Directly to the Beneficiary? One of the fundamental safeguards in documentary credits is the authentication process performed by an advising bank. But what happens if an issuing bank sends the LC directly to the beneficiary without involving an advising bank? Is this permissible under UCP 600, and what risks should the parties consider? Let’s look at a question from Gerson Mário. Question Dear Mr. … Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading? In international trade, many disputes arise not because parties misunderstand UCP 600, but because they mix up legal requirements with commercial practices. A reader recently asked Mr. Old Man about two common concerns in timber imports from Africa: whether the L/C expiry date must be linked to the shipping transit time, and whether removing the word “Clean” from “Clean On … Read More
Does Field 39A Cover Quantity Tolerance? A reader recently sent Mr. Old Man an interesting question about quantity tolerance under an L/C. The issue sounds simple at first glance, but in practice it often creates confusion between sales contract terms, the wording of the credit, and the application of UCP 600 Article 30. Here is the question and discussion. Question Dear Mr. Old Man, I would … Read More
CAN A COMMERCIAL INVOICE EXCEED THE LC AMOUNT? One area that occasionally causes confusion under UCP 600 is the relationship between Article 18(b) and Article 30(a). Many practitioners assume that a commercial invoice may exceed the LC amount only where the credit expressly allows a tolerance, or where the words “about” or “approximately” are used in connection with the credit amount under Article 30(a). However, Article 18(b) provides … Read More
Đừng để “ngoại ngữ” thành… “ngại ngữ” Hôm nay một bạn hiện đang định cư ở Mỹ đăng tút khoe đang tập nói tiếng Anh. Bạn lớn tuổi rồi mới bắt đầu học nói nên giọng còn ngọng nghịu, nghe chưa rõ lắm. Nhưng Mr. Old Man thấy vậy lại quý. Ở tuổi đó mà vẫn chịu khó mở miệng học cái mới đã đáng nể rồi. … Read More
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM? Lading (CPBL), and freight notations on the bill of lading. If a credit is issued under CFR terms, should the bill of lading necessarily indicate “Freight Prepaid”? And if the LC instead requires “Freight Payable as per Charter Party”, would that create a discrepancy or inconsistency with the stated Incoterm? This Q&A discusses the difference between documentary compliance under UCP … Read More
GROWING OLD: WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF US? Mr. Old Man occasionally reads the Perspective section on VNExpress and genuinely enjoys it. True to its name, Perspective is often not a playground for professional journalists, but a place where people who have spent years bumping into life share their experiences, observations, and thoughts. Today, Mr. Old Man read an article titled “When We Grow Old, Who Will Support … Read More
Articles Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being withou… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Articles Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being withou… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Articles Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being withou… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Articles Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being withou… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling 5 Jun 2026 This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being without a mobile phone or being unable to use it. When Mr. Old Man was studying English some decades ago, this word did not exist …
Nomophobia – Hội Chứng Sợ Không Có Điện Thoại 5 Jun 2026 Hôm nay lướt Facebook, Mr. Old Man bắt gặp một từ tiếng Anh khá lạ: nomophobia. Ví dụ minh họa đi kèm rất dễ hiểu: “Many teenagers experience nomophobia when they forget their phones at home.” Tạm dịch: “Nhiều bạn trẻ trải qua hội chứng sợ không có điện thoại khi để quên điện thoại ở nhà.” Nomophobia được hiểu …
Tắm Vitamin D (phần 2): Thay đổi quan điểm 5 Jun 2026 Hồi đầu tháng 5, Mr. Old Man từng viết bài “Tắm Vitamin D”, kể lại cảnh buổi sáng ở bãi biển Thanh Khê có nhiều cô chú lớn tuổi vùi mình dưới cát, nằm phơi nắng để “nạp Vitamin D” – theo cách nói vui của các cô chú là để tăng sức đề kháng, giảm đau lưng, đau chân, …
Can an Issuing Bank Advise an LC Directly to the Beneficiary? 4 Jun 2026 One of the fundamental safeguards in documentary credits is the authentication process performed by an advising bank. But what happens if an issuing bank sends the LC directly to the beneficiary without involving an advising bank? Is this permissible under UCP 600, and what risks should the parties consider? Let’s look at a question from Gerson Mário. Question Dear Mr. …
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading? 3 Jun 2026 In international trade, many disputes arise not because parties misunderstand UCP 600, but because they mix up legal requirements with commercial practices. A reader recently asked Mr. Old Man about two common concerns in timber imports from Africa: whether the L/C expiry date must be linked to the shipping transit time, and whether removing the word “Clean” from “Clean On …
Does Field 39A Cover Quantity Tolerance? 3 Jun 2026 A reader recently sent Mr. Old Man an interesting question about quantity tolerance under an L/C. The issue sounds simple at first glance, but in practice it often creates confusion between sales contract terms, the wording of the credit, and the application of UCP 600 Article 30. Here is the question and discussion. Question Dear Mr. Old Man, I would …
CAN A COMMERCIAL INVOICE EXCEED THE LC AMOUNT? 3 Jun 2026 One area that occasionally causes confusion under UCP 600 is the relationship between Article 18(b) and Article 30(a). Many practitioners assume that a commercial invoice may exceed the LC amount only where the credit expressly allows a tolerance, or where the words “about” or “approximately” are used in connection with the credit amount under Article 30(a). However, Article 18(b) provides …
Đừng để “ngoại ngữ” thành… “ngại ngữ” 3 Jun 2026 Hôm nay một bạn hiện đang định cư ở Mỹ đăng tút khoe đang tập nói tiếng Anh. Bạn lớn tuổi rồi mới bắt đầu học nói nên giọng còn ngọng nghịu, nghe chưa rõ lắm. Nhưng Mr. Old Man thấy vậy lại quý. Ở tuổi đó mà vẫn chịu khó mở miệng học cái mới đã đáng nể rồi. …
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM? 3 Jun 2026 Lading (CPBL), and freight notations on the bill of lading. If a credit is issued under CFR terms, should the bill of lading necessarily indicate “Freight Prepaid”? And if the LC instead requires “Freight Payable as per Charter Party”, would that create a discrepancy or inconsistency with the stated Incoterm? This Q&A discusses the difference between documentary compliance under UCP …
GROWING OLD: WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF US? 2 Jun 2026 Mr. Old Man occasionally reads the Perspective section on VNExpress and genuinely enjoys it. True to its name, Perspective is often not a playground for professional journalists, but a place where people who have spent years bumping into life share their experiences, observations, and thoughts. Today, Mr. Old Man read an article titled “When We Grow Old, Who Will Support …
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Articles Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being withou… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Articles Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being withou… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?