More than 100 ships will be utilized to serve 4,500 employees from a pharmaceutical firm owned by Indian billionaire Dilip Shangvi in Ha Long City in the northern province of Quang Ninh, according to Vietravel, the travel company responsible for guiding the Indian tourists.

Nearly 1,400 Indian employees arrived in Ha Long City on Thursday to tour Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognized world natural heritage site. 

Vietravel said this first group toured Ha Long Bay on 33 ships with each ship accommodating 20-47 tourists.

Meals for them were prepared by Indian chefs who are working at restaurants in Ha Long City.

The Indian tourists left Ha Long for Hanoi the same day.

The following groups of the company's employees will come to Ha Long between August 29 and September 6.

A tour guide (R) introduces the schedule of the trip in Ha Long to Indian tourists. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

Nguyen Huyen Anh, director of the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, said this was the largest-ever group of Indian tourists to visit Ha Long Bay.

Quang Ninh expected to provide a warm welcome and leave a good impression on them, Huyen noted, adding that this was a great opportunity for the province to attract more Indian travelers and international tourists as a whole.

Shailesh Joshi, a representative of the Indian tourist group, shared that the visit to Ha Long was a wonderful experience. 

Both Ninh Binh Province which they visited on Wednesday and Ha Long were interesting, he added.

He was excited at Vietnam’s natural landscapes and friendly people, saying that he would share the beautiful images of Vietnam to his relatives and friends so that they can come to Vietnam at least once.

He said he would return to Vietnam if he had a chance.

The delegation of Indian tourists visited Ha Long Bay on August 29, 2024 and left for Hanoi the same day. Photo: Thanh Thao / Tuoi Tre

The delegation of 4,500 Indian guests are employees of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, a multinational pharmaceutical company founded by billionaire Dilip Shangvi.

He booked the tour to show appreciation to the company agents worldwide.

The employees, mainly traveling from India but joined by international colleagues, are divided into smaller groups during their tour.

Ha Long is among the three destinations in Vietnam of the delegation, besides Hanoi and Ninh Binh.

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