Build in public: how I built Mandanix from a real need

I'm Mạc Văn Hà (Martin Mac), and I work at Google after 10+ years across global tech companies (Foxconn, Logitech, Google). But this post isn't about the company — it's about why I built Mandanix, and how I think when building products.

It started from a very real need

Mandanix wasn't born from a "startup idea". It was born because I needed to learn Chinese myself — and I noticed most tools on the market are designed for English speakers, ignoring a huge advantage Vietnamese learners have: their Sino-Vietnamese (Hán–Việt) vocabulary.

About 60% of Vietnamese vocabulary has Chinese roots. Vietnamese speakers already "know" a lot of Chinese that wasn't being used properly. (I wrote about this in detail in the pillar: Learning Chinese through Hán–Việt.)

My first principle: build what you genuinely need, not what merely sounds good.

Build for myself first, then polish for everyone

I build in this order: make it useful for myself and my family first, then refine it into something anyone can use. This keeps the product honest — if I wouldn't use it, I know right away something is wrong.

The experience I gained at large companies helps me build properly: real data, evidence-based methods, care in every detail — instead of chasing features for their own sake.

Why "build in public"

I choose to build in the open: sharing the method, the process, even what isn't perfect yet. Three reasons:

1. Accountability. Say it, then you have to do it.
2. Early feedback. Real learners tell me what works faster than any plan.
3. Trust. I believe in honest products; building in public is proof, not a promise.

That's also why this site has a blog and a newsletter — to document the journey and the methods, consistently.

A few lessons from building a language-learning product

• Method beats features. One correct learning mechanism (learning characters by Hán–Việt root) is worth more than ten flashy features.
• Respect the learner's time. Every minute they spend must buy real progress.
• Be honest about limits. Hán–Việt helps you remember characters, but pronunciation still needs separate practice — I say that clearly instead of promising "effortless" learning.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Mandanix for? Vietnamese learners of Chinese — from complete beginners to those preparing for HSK or needing workplace Chinese, plus a kids mode.

What makes it different? It taps the Hán–Việt advantage systematically: learning characters by root, anchored to Sino-Vietnamese readings, instead of learning cold like tools made for English speakers.

Next

If you want to see the idea in action, try the Hán–Việt demo widget on the homepage, check out Mandanix, or subscribe to follow the build-in-public journey. Thanks for reading.