English
French
Spanish
Italian
On August 27th, the first group of 4,500 Indian guests arrived in Vietnam for a tour. They are Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Limited employees, owned by billionaire Dilip Shanghvi. This is the largest Indian tourist group visit Vietnam, far exceeding the usual scale of 100-200 guests. They will be divided into groups of 200-500 people and travel in batches.
The Indian guests landed in Hanoi with big smiles on their faces. Photo: Dan tri
The announced itinerary includes popular tourist destinations in the North. They will visit Hanoi, Trang An (Ninh Binh), and Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh). The group will stay in 4-5 star hotels with specific beliefs and religious requests for food.
Mr. Dilip Shanghvi was born on October 1, 1955. He is the founder of Sun Pharma - India's largest pharmaceutical company. According to Forbes, with a net worth of USD 29.5 billion, Mr. Shanghvi currently ranks as the 5th richest person in India, 13th in Asia, and 59th in the world.
From modest beginnings as a small company producing neurological drugs, under the visionary leadership of Mr. Shanghvi, Sun Pharma has skyrocketed to become a global pharmaceutical powerhouse. His business strategy focused on acquiring and merging smaller companies. Throughout its development, the group has completed more than 15 acquisitions.
Diliph Shanghvi rapidly accumulated his wealth through his astute business strategies. Photo: The Morning Context
Although being a billionaire, he is a humble person. He is religious, a vegetarian, and doesn't drink alcohol. He has simple hobbies like reading Harry Potter and drinking at his favorite cafes. His family is his greatest happiness, and they meet at least once a week.
Moreover, Mr. Dilip Shanghvi is also known for his deep love of Vietnamese cuisine, culture, and tourism. He has generously sponsored a trip for his employees, a present that many of them may never have imagined. He believes that human connections are just as valuable as wealth.
At Hoa Lo Prison, the tour group learned about the relic’s history. Before the visit, Hoa Lo Prison had prepared plans to welcome the large Indian tour group, such as putting up signs in English and Hindi, arranging Hindi-speaking staff, and adjusting the display to support the flow of visitors... The management also coordinated with the authorities to ensure security.
Arjit Sahai paused in front of a souvenir shop inside Hoa Lo Prison. Photo: VnExpress
After leaving Hoa Lo Prison, they continued their visit to the Temple of Literature. A special entrance and arrangements were made to bring the group the best possible experience. Given the daily average of thousands of visitors, accommodating the Indian group was smooth.
Many tourists were amazed by the unique architecture here. In particular, they were excited to see many Vietnamese women wearing ao dai at the historical site and continuing to take photos with the locals.
A visitor is offering incense and praying at the Temple of Literature. Photo: VnExpress
The group also visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Hoan Kiem Lake. They will stay at high-end hotels with specific requests as booked. Afterward, they will take turns visiting Trang An and Ha Long Bay.
Suggested for you: Ha Noi Old Quarter Tour 3 hours: Taste of Street Food in Hanoi
As soon as they arrived at the harbor, tourists were delighted by the beautiful scenery of Ha Long Bay and joined in the fun with the welcome lion dance. During the bay tour, the group had lunch on cruise ships, with food prepared by Indian chefs. Water and beer were complimentary served.
Indian tourists are taking photos with the lion dance team. Photo: Vietnamnet
Over 100 boats have been mobilized to accommodate the tour group on their 3-4 hour exploration of Ha Long Bay. The boats are positioned in the most convenient locations for easy boarding and disembarkation. Each will have 4 servers and a dedicated staff member responsible for welcoming guests and serving food.
The staff is preparing fruits and vegetarian food. Photo: CafeF
Waste collection in the port area is strictly enforced. Staff is responsible for reminding tourists not to bring plastic bags or bottles onto the boat. Signs and banners in multiple languages have been prepared for both on-shore and on-board areas. Tour guides are carefully selected, and all introductions must be approved.
The Ninh Binh Department of Tourism has coordinated with the Trang An Eco-Tourism Area to prepare a welcoming ceremony. A representative from the Department will personally greet the delegation and present them with bouquets. Each guest will receive a conical hat as a token of Vietnam's friendship and hospitality towards international friends.
Mr. Pham Duy Phong, Vice Director of Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, presented flowers to welcome the Indian tourist group. Photo: Dan tri
In addition to enjoying the natural scenery, the tour group also visited sacred temples and pagodas, learning about the history of the land and the people of Ninh Binh. Each boatman is a tourism ambassador, guiding visitors through the stories of this region.
Sourvav Paul said that most of them were visiting Vietnam for the first time and everyone was impressed by the country's landscape. The hospitality of the people made them feel happy to be here. "In the future, I will introduce Hanoi to everyone," Paul said.
"After spending a day in Vietnam, I feel right at home," Mr. Reekef shared. "The bustling streets filled with vehicles remind me a lot of Mumbai."
.jpg)
Movenpick Living West Hanoi offers a welcome drink. Photo: Dan tri
Sahil Sood expressed his excitement about exploring Hanoi. He shared, "The people are friendly. I especially love Vietnamese coffee. Indians really like coming to Vietnam. I will explore the markets and evening entertainment spots in Hanoi.”
When asked about the food, Sumita Yadav said, “We've been treated to a delicious mix of Indian and Vietnamese dishes. I've lost count of how many different things we've tried. I particularly enjoyed the vegetarian options like Panjeeri, Biryani, and Paratha.”
The food served to tourists meets hygiene and religious standards. Photo: Dan tri
Deepak Gupta commented on how much he enjoyed his stay, “We had a great night's sleep and the rooms were comfortable. It's been a fantastic trip, and we're excited to continue our adventure today.”
What's noteworthy here is that the group arrived in large numbers but chose to stay at the most luxurious hotels in Hanoi, like InterContinental Hanoi, Landmark72, Meliá Hanoi, etc. Perhaps, the esteemed billionaire wanted his employees to have the best possible experience. Or Vietnam's high-end services could meet the special requirements of foreign guests.
Earlier this year, an Indian billionaire couple held a wedding in Vietnam, inviting many upper-class guests. They booked all 250 rooms at Sheraton Grand Danang Resort for 3 days from January 19th to 21st. The resort's general manager revealed that the billionaire couple spent up to USD 500,000.
Vietnam has the necessary infrastructure to cater to luxury tours. Photo: Local Tours Vietnam
Vietnam has become an increasingly popular destination for the global elite. In March, Bill Gates and his girlfriend chose Vietnam for their vacation, spending five days exploring Da Nang and Hoi An. They stayed at a 5-star resort in Son Tra Peninsula.
This shows that Vietnam's famous attractions can meet the stringent standards of high-end tourists. They are even better at security and environment because of the preparation stage. Images of celebrities enjoying their trips are a useful way to promote tourism.
The visit of 4,500 Indian tourists is great news for the national tourism industry. Not only does it bring economic benefits, but it also enhances the friendship between Vietnam and India. Vietnam always welcomes friends from all over the world with the best image. Contact Asia King Travel to plan your most wonderful experiences in this country!
Suggested for you: Full-day Tour in Ninh Binh: Hoa Lu & Trang An Excursion
