Five years in Hanoi. 63 provinces. Zero press trips. This blog is what I wish existed when I landed.
I was working a UX copywriting job at a startup in Austin. Good salary, health insurance, the full American setup. In March 2021, I quit, bought a one-way ticket to Hanoi, and told myself I'd try it for three months.
That was five years ago. I'm still here.
I live in a narrow house off Đê La Thành in Hanoi. I learned Vietnamese from a motorcycle repair guy named Tuấn on Nguyễn Lương Bằng — two hours a week, often while he fixed bikes with one hand and quizzed me on tones with the other. It took eight months before he stopped laughing at my pronunciation.
I kept sending the same email to friends asking for Vietnam advice. The guides I found online were all the same recycled list: "Visit Hoan Kiem Lake. Try pho. Ha Long Bay is magical." Fine. But what about the 4am bus that doesn't have a bathroom? The SIM card scam at the airport? Which side of Hoi An to actually stay on?
Nobody was writing the honest version. So I did.
Vietnam Unlock is for independent travelers — people who want to figure things out themselves, move at their own pace, and have real experiences instead of packaged ones. I write like I'm on a plastic stool across from you with a Bia Hoi. No hype. No affiliate padding. If something is overrated, I say so.
Real prices in both VND and USD. Real street names. Real time estimates. If a guesthouse is worth every dollar, I tell you why — specifically. If a tour is a rip-off, I tell you that too.
I've gotten things wrong — prices change, places close, routes get better or worse. If you spot something outdated, email me. I'd rather be corrected than mislead someone planning a trip.
“The 63rd province was Ca Mau — the southernmost tip of Vietnam. I got there on a rented Honda Win after a 300km ride from Cần Thơ. The road was flooded for the last 40km. Would absolutely do it again.”
Travel writing has a lot of empty calories. Here’s what I do instead.
Questions, corrections, or want to argue whether Bún Bò Huê is better than Phở? I’m always up for it.
✉ jake@vietnamunlock.comSome links on this site earn a small commission if you book through them — at no extra cost to you. I only link to things I’ve personally used or would genuinely recommend. The income keeps this site ad-free and paywall-free. The trade-off: I only recommend things I’d tell a friend about over a Bia Hoi.