What we collect, and what we don't

VNLocals is an independent Vietnam travel guide, not a company with a data department. This page is the plain-language version of what happens to your information when you use the site — no dark patterns, no 4,000-word legalese. If anything here is unclear, the contact page is a real inbox.

The short version

• We use Google Analytics to see which guides are useful — and only after you accept cookies. Decline and nothing is tracked.
• You can browse the entire site without an account. If you create one, we store the minimum needed to save your trips and wishlist.
• We don't sell your data, run ad networks, or track you across other sites.

Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4 to understand aggregate, anonymous usage — which pages and tools people find useful, roughly where visitors come from, and what devices they use. We never see individual identities through it, and we use it only to improve the guides.

We run it with Google Consent Mode, which means it starts cookieless by default: until you accept, Google receives only anonymous, aggregate measurement and no analytics cookies are set on your device. If you accept, GA additionally sets analytics cookies (for example _ga) for more accurate stats. If you decline, it simply stays cookieless. You can change your choice any time via Cookie settings in the footer, and Google processes this data as described in its own privacy policy.

If you create an account

Accounts are optional and exist only to save things for you — your wishlist, planned trips, and any tour photos, reviews, or corrections you choose to submit. Authentication is handled by Supabase (and Google sign-in, if you use it), which stores your email address and a secure session. We use this only to run your account; we don't email you marketing.

Content you deliberately submit — a photo for a tour, a review, an issue report — is stored so it can be shown on the site or actioned by us. Don't submit anything you wouldn't want published.

Cookies & local storage

Two different things are at work here:

• On-device storage we always use — your cookie choice, wishlist, comparison list, and saved trips live in your browser's local storage. They never leave your device and aren't used to track you. They're what make those features work.
• Analytics cookies (the Google _ga family) — set only if you accept, and used only for the aggregate analytics above.

Affiliate links

Some outbound links — for example to travel insurance or hostel booking — are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. They never change which operators we recommend; our curation is independent and we list the operators we'd tell you to skip. Following an affiliate link takes you to that company's site, governed by its own privacy policy.

Who else is involved

The site relies on a few third parties, each with its own policy:

• Google Analytics — aggregate analytics (only with consent).
• Supabase — accounts, authentication, and submitted content.
• Our hosting provider — serves the site and keeps standard server logs.
• Image libraries (Unsplash, Pexels) — some photography is served from or credited to them.

Your choices

• Browse fully without an account or analytics — just decline cookies.
• Change your cookie choice any time via Cookie settings in the footer.
• Ask us to delete your account and associated data — email us from the contact page and we'll action it.
• Use your browser's controls to clear cookies and local storage at any point.

Children

The site is intended for adults planning travel. We don't knowingly collect information from children.

Changes

If we change how data is handled, we'll update this page and the date at the top. Material changes to analytics will reset your cookie choice so you can decide again.

Contact

Questions, corrections, or a deletion request? Reach us through the contact page. A real person reads it.