Hanoi is changing. This is very apparent in the city's western districts of Cau Giay and Tu Liem. Having been there twice this past weekend, I tried to capture urban life out west. It begs for more. Yes, this place is photogenic in its own right.

For the long May Day weekend break we traveled to Mui Ne, a fishing village cum beach town roughly halfway between Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City. It's famed for its dunes, an uncommon sight in Vietnam, and strong winds which attract many a surfer. While we didn't actually see any of the latter, we did encounter crowds of local daytrippers enjoying a few beers, some snacks and of course the ever present karaoke machine on the beach.