Over eight hundred of the 4,500 employees from a pharmaceutical firm owned by Indian billionaire Dilip Shangvi took boat rides to explore the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh Province, northern Vietnam on Wednesday.

Ninh Binh is a mountainous province located in the southernmost part of the Red River Delta, roughly 100 kilometers from Hanoi.

The group arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday afternoon to kick off their tour through three northern Vietnamese locales, including Hanoi, Ninh Binh Province and Quang Ninh Province.

The tourists were eager to thread through Trang An’s slew of spectacular caves on small eco-friendly boats.

Indian tourists take a boat ride to admire the natural beauty of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex. Photo: Ninh Binh Department of Tourism

The travelers visited temples and pagodas with historical, religious, and spiritual significance. They were also introduced to the culture of Ninh Binh Province. 

After exploring Trang An, the tourists ate lunch at Trang An 5 Restaurant in Ninh Binh City, which served six main vegan dishes with 90 percent of the ingredients sourced from India.

Indian tourists take a wefie at a tourist site in Ninh Binh Province. Photo: Ninh Binh Department of Tourism

Billionaire Dilip Shangvi, founder of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, a multinational pharmaceutical company based in India, booked the tour to show appreciation to his workforce.

The delegation of 4,500 guests, mainly traveling from India but joined by international colleagues, will stay at 11 four- and five-star hotels in Hanoi.

The employees will be divided into smaller groups during their tour from August 27 through September 3.

The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex was listed as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site in June 2014 by UNESCO.

Trang An is rated as the 31st mixed heritage site in the world, the 11th in Asia-Pacific, and the first in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is one of the most stunning attractions in the northern province and is flanked by limestone karst peaks crisscrossing submerged valleys and overlooking near-vertical cliffs.

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