A magical journey in Cappadocia

Searching for the "Milky Way"

Cappadocia is a valley located in Nevsehir province, in central Turkey, 290 km from the capital Ankara. It is one of Türkiye's most famous natural wonders, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. The Cappadocia valley was formed from layers of sedimentary and volcanic rock. Through the action of nature, the rock layers have been eroded, creating many interesting shapes.

After exploring the "tourist capital" of Antalya and the "city of scholarship" of Konya, we arrived in the Cappadocia plateau. The city welcomed us with rather unique weather; the gentle afternoon sun cast a golden glow, yet the air remained cool. After checking in, I immediately spent some time strolling around Cappadocia at dusk. Here, there are many buildings with very unusual architecture. Like the hotel we stayed in, these houses were originally natural caves within volcanoes, modified and deepened by ancient people into multi-tiered shelters to escape pursuit by the Roman army and to protect against the cold in winter. There are vast cave complexes so large they can accommodate up to 20,000 people, and locals call them cities, such as Kaymakli and Derinkuyu… Exploring these underground cities firsthand, I felt as if this was a land completely isolated from the rest of the Earth.

On the first night, my friends and I ventured deep into the valley to find and admire the Milky Way. The temperature gradually dropped at night until around 1 AM.^oC. In the freezing weather, the six of us, along with our cameras, went around the valley to capture images of the mushroom-shaped house and the Milky Way. It was truly an amazing experience, as we finally got the moment we were hoping for.

Our joy was doubled when we returned to the hotel and received the news that the weather forecast for tomorrow would be beautiful, with a high chance of hot air ballooning. It was a great stroke of luck because many people come to Cappadocia but are unable to go hot air ballooning due to bad weather conditions such as rain, strong winds, or snow.

Amazing Tour is a series of programs promoting destinations for Vietnamese tourists, launched by Travellive magazine. “Turkey – A Legend Come True” is the 4th Amazing Tour, exploring four legendary cities of Turkey, organized with sponsorship from Nokia and Turkish Airlines.

Flying Towards the Sun

At dawn, my group had gathered, ready to depart for the hot air balloon landing site. It was only 5 a.m., the road down the valley was pitch black, and numerous cars were coming from the opposite direction. The driver stopped and contacted someone, only to be told that hot air balloons couldn't fly in that area (for reasons unknown). Feeling anxious, we moved to another area with little hope. A short while later, unexpectedly, I began to see colorful "air pockets" appearing before my eyes. Around me, there were about 10 hot air balloons preparing for their flight. Blue and red flames blazed, pumping hot air into the giant balloons. The balloons grew larger and then stood upright against the sky. The negative light of the night blended with the "sunlight" of the blazing flames, creating an incredibly magical scene. A typical hot air balloon has four compartments and twelve seats. By choosing a spot in the corner of the compartment, I got the best position for taking photos.

After completing the basic safety instructions, as the sun gradually rose, the "balloons" began to lift off the ground. I felt like I was floating in the night, gliding over the small peaks in the Cappadocia valley. Reaching an altitude of about 300 meters, the first rays of dawn began to illuminate the entire valley. This moment was absolutely breathtaking. A magnificent picture was painted with hundreds of gigantic, vibrant balloons floating in the magical dawn, below which were deep ravines and gorges with bizarre shapes, resembling the surface of the moon. Looking down from an altitude of 600 meters, I felt as if I were gazing at the Earth from outer space; it's difficult to fully describe the emotions I felt at that moment. Cars moved along the roads hidden behind the valley, their countless colors created by the vibrant balloons above, making the landscape even more surreal.

After 45 minutes floating in the air, we landed safely in an open area in the valley and were awarded certificates for participating in the hot air balloon experience in Cappadocia. You can purchase photos of yourself in the hot air balloon as they use action cameras to record the experience.

Land of interesting things

The following attractions gave me a clearer view of Cappadocia. Everywhere you look, there are rocks in countless shapes and forms, each place offering a continuous stream of surprises to visitors. The mushroom village in the Pasabagi Valley, with its giant rock formations, is also known as the Valley of the Monks, in memory of the monk who lived and built a monastery inside one of these rock formations centuries ago. Pasabagi is also home to many of the largest, perfectly preserved mushroom houses in the Cappadocia region… Each house is constructed from giant rock columns 20-30 meters high, and you can live inside them. From here, you can easily combine your visit with a trip to the Zelve open-air museum as they are quite close.

If you have time, visit Avanos – a bustling town situated along the Kızılırmak River. A part of the town's ancient charm lies along cobblestone streets bordering the Ottoman castle. These streets are lined with shops selling colorful pottery, reflecting the thriving pottery industry in Avanos from the Hittite period to the present day. Using mineral-rich clay extracted from the alluvial deposits of the Kızılırmak River, Avanos pottery is characterized by its vibrant red color. Here, you can freely explore and even try making your own pottery, such as a simple pot. Don't forget to buy some souvenirs, but remember to bargain carefully. You might find a gift for 30 lira if the vendor is asking 100 lira. For me, it was also a fascinating experience of the local culture.

Additional information:

Visa:Türkiye is not part of the EU, so tourists need to apply for a Turkish visa. The processing time is 15 days if applying in person at the embassy. If you have a valid European, American, or Irish visa, you can apply for an e-visa with a very quick procedure, receiving your e-visa in just 2 hours.

Trip:From Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City, you need to take an international flight to Istanbul, then connect to Kayseri, and continue your journey to Cappadocia by bus, which takes about an hour. It's recommended to use Turkish Airlines – Turkey's national airline – to avoid the hassle of transferring luggage during your transit in Istanbul. Furthermore, Turkish Airlines is a high-quality airline with ideal flight times from Vietnam to Europe, departing in Vietnam in the evening and arriving in Turkey in the morning.

Time:April to June is the ideal time to explore Cappadocia.

Accommodation:Although somewhat expensive, spending the night in a cave hotel is an experience not to be missed when visiting Cappadocia.

Cuisine:Simit, kahvalti, dolma and sarma, manti, maraş dondurma, pide, fried anchovies (hamsi), raki, and fish sandwiches are dishes you should try.

Means of transportationTourists can easily get around by bus or taxi.

Money:Türkiye uses the lira, with 1 lira being approximately worth 4,000 Vietnamese dong.

Other notes:

- You should spend 3 days in Cappadocia to have enough time to explore everything.

Besides hot air ballooning, you should choose a cafe with a beautiful location to watch the balloons, to get a different perspective and take the best check-in photos.

- Cappadocia is home to stunning handcrafted carpets; take the time to explore or shop for some.

Ngo Tran Hai An