Enjoy the "sweet chill" of autumn foliage in Kazakhstan.

During her 10-day trip to Kazakhstan, Phuong Mai spent time exploring Almaty, Lake Issyk, Lake Kolsay, Charyn Gorge, and Lake Kaindy, before wandering around Astana – Kazakhstan's "future" city.

Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic, is a Central Asian country stretching westward from the Caspian Sea to the Altai Mountains in the east. It is one of the few countries in the world that can still be considered a faraway destination.

Kazakhstan borders both Russia and China and is the 9th largest country in the world, so there's plenty to explore. The name Kazakhstan literally translates to "Land of the Wanderers".

When visiting Kazakhstan, tourists can choose from several options: visiting Almaty to experience the slow pace of life there, strolling along the streets and feeling the pleasant chill of the approaching winter, wandering down Terrenkur Street with its fairytale-like scenery, or trying the city's subway – you'll find unique and unforgettable experiences.

In addition, a visit to Lake Issyk – known as the jewel of Kazakhstan – will show you just how beautiful the country is. The color of the lake's water might remind you of the lakes in Jiuzhaigou, China.

Visiting Lake Kolsay reveals that this country is also blessed with incredibly beautiful scenery, like a painting. Here, you can go boating around the lake or choose a gentle hike to admire the surrounding landscape. Groups of people can be seen rowing and chatting lively on the lake, creating a very relaxing and pleasant feeling.

Additionally, there is Charyn Canyon, located on the eastern edge of Almaty, about 100 km west of Horgos, a border town in Xinjiang, China. Charyn Canyon has many different canyons interspersed throughout, creating a landscape very similar to the Grand Canyon in the US that we often see on our laptop screens.

Wander around Astana to admire the more modern architectural buildings compared to the capital, or choose to visit Expo Kazakhstan, stroll around and admire the golden autumn leaves covering the entire city – a truly breathtaking and satisfying experience.

“What I cherished most during the trip were the brief moments in Almaty. My friend and I spent over two days exploring the city. To me, Almaty is a very gentle and slow-paced city, a city with an Eastern European feel. I'm a nostalgic person, so I really, really loved the atmosphere there. There were times when I stopped just to admire the sight of an elderly couple crossing the street, a small family taking their child on a picnic, a baby running and playing, or the trees in late autumn with only a few leaves left – it all moved me. At times, I told myself, 'Ah, so I've always been searching for this atmosphere, this gentle feeling.' The emotions are hard to put into words,” Phương Mai shared.

Phuong Mai's 10-day trip exploring Kazakhstan went quite smoothly, with only one hiccup: in Bishkek, the driver was nearly an hour late from the mountain to the meeting point at the border crossing. All three of them were quite anxious at that moment. Otherwise, the weather was cooperative, and everything went according to plan.

The most memorable part of her trip was the day she and her friends crossed the Kyrgyzstan border into Kazakhstan.

“With the incredibly beautiful scenery along the way, meeting the friendly and interesting border guards from both countries, being invited to lunch at 4 pm by the Kazakhstani driver with local dishes that suited our taste, and visiting Lake Kaindy as dusk was falling, the three of us were still laughing and having fun on the road. Those were truly unforgettable moments…,” Phương Mai said.

For Vietnamese tourists visiting Kazakhstan for the first time, entering the country can take quite a long time. Customs officials will thoroughly check everything from your return ticket and visa (they will check visa-exempt countries from a sticker attached to your passport), to the Vietnamese national emblem and stamps inside your passport.

If you're visiting in late autumn or early winter, like Phuong Mai, you should prepare plenty of warm clothes because the temperature will drop very quickly. Bring a small umbrella as you might occasionally encounter rain. When visiting Charyn Alley, bring warm clothing like gloves and a wool hat… the wind here is quite strong and can easily cause headaches without protection. Remember to bring water if you plan to explore the entire alley area, as it's quite large.

Additionally, heat patches might be useful when you get to Astana, where the weather will be colder, helping to keep you warm quite a bit. Also, remember to bring a power bank or portable charger because batteries drain quickly outside.

“Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are relatively new countries to many Vietnamese people. In fact, Kazakhstan's economy is quite developed, with the highest GDP in Central Asia, a stable political situation, abundant natural beauty, delicious food, and friendly people, so tourists can confidently embark on a journey to explore the country. The scenery here is beautiful, especially in autumn, which is just as stunning as any other place,” Phuong Mai added.

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao