Hundreds of the 4,500 employees from a pharmaceutical firm owned by Indian billionaire Dilip Shangvi have been treated to various local specialties while they are touring Vietnam, with many tempted by banh com, Hanoi’s signature green sticky rice cakes.

Banh com is made of green sticky rice and green beans.

Movenpick Living West Hanoi welcomes some 300 tourists out of an Indian company’s 4,500 employees. Photo: Thanh Dong / Tuoi Tre

Shamila Rolfe, general manager at Movenpick Living West Hanoi, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the hotel welcomed nearly 300 Indian tourists of the first group of the Indian company’s 4,500 employees.

“Banh com in Lang Vong (Vong Village), where the hotel is located, was served to these Indian guests. Surprisingly, they were bewitched by the local delicacy,” she said. 

“Besides, che com (green rice sweet soup) also excited these Indian tourists,” Rolfe shared.

To serve these tourists, the hotel hired Indian chefs to treat them to Indian dishes.

The hotel put its priority on bringing a familiar and comfortable lodging experience to these guests.

Indian tourists love to savor familiar dishes and avoid beef, pork, eggs and root vegetables. Photo: Pan Pacific

Benjamin M. Schwarz, general manager at Pan Pacific Hanoi, said that the Indian tourists love to savor familiar dishes and their diet excludes beef, pork, eggs and root vegetables.

In addition, all ingredients must be ground and mixed with each other before they are cooked and served to the Indian guests.

“When recommending some dishes in a menu for these guests, the hotel also introduced several Vietnamese dishes.

“Particularly, we are running a buffet program featuring the specialties of the country’s three regions to mark the 79th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day (September 2) to delight our guests,” said Schwarz.

The four-day public holiday lasts from Saturday to Tuesday.

Novotel Hanoi Thai Ha was also well-prepared for serving a large number of Indian guests.

The hotel sent a group of its employees to India in late July to work with travel agents in India and try Indian food.

Nguyen Thu, an executive at the hotel, said that most hotels in Hanoi in particular and in Vietnam in general are working to attract Indian tourists.

“Learning about Indians’ travel culture and demand for food, and suit their needs will help hotels tap the tourism source market effectively,” Thu stated.

“If we meet all the demands of Indian visitors, especially the wealthy, Vietnam will continue to be their sought-after tourist destination,” she emphasized.

Indian guests require to be served with Masala chai, a popular beverage in India, during their lodging period. Photo: Pan Pacific

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 were set to be divided into smaller groups during their tour from August 27 through September 3.

Chefs at Novotel Hanoi Thai Ha prepare food to serve Indian guests. Photo: Novotel Hanoi Thai Ha

Indian guests conduct check-in procedures at Novotel Hanoi Thai Ha. Photo: Novotel Hanoi Thai Ha

Most of the spices are imported from India. Photo: Novotel Hanoi Thai Ha

Various dishes on display to serve Indian guests. Photo: Novotel Hanoi Thai Ha

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