Indian billionaire to visit Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay with 4,500 employees
Leading Vietnamese travel agency Vietravel will host a group of 4,500 tourists from India’s Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Group led by founder Dilip Shanghvi, from August 27 to September 7.
![Dilip Shanghvi, founder of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Group. Photo courtesy of Forbes India.](https://i.ex-cdn.com/theinvestor.vn/files/content/2024/08/14/dilip-theinvestor-1214.jpg)
Dilip Shanghvi, founder of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Group. Photo courtesy of Forbes India.
They will visit Ha Long Bay and Hanoi, Vietravel marketing director Nguyen Nguyet Van Khanh said Tuesday.
Khanh said this was the first time that the travel agency was handling such a large-scale tour. The group will be split into smaller ones during the visit, she added.
While the employees of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Group are primarily from India, they will come to Vietnam from several countries. They are considered high-spending customers and arrangements for this trip were made two-three months in advance, Khanh said.
Shanghvi, 68, the group’s billionaire founder, will also join the tour. According to Forbes, he’s worth $28.7 billion and is the 69th richest person in the world.
![A view of Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency.](https://i.ex-cdn.com/theinvestor.vn/files/content/2024/08/14/ha-long-bay-1408.jpg)
A view of Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency.
The group’s itinerary covers major tourist destinations in the north including Hanoi, Ninh Binh province and Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh province). The group has requested Vietravel to arrange accommodation in four- to five-star hotels, ensuring high standards of hygiene and safety in both lodging and dining.
![Trang An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO cultural and natural heritage site in Ninh Binh, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the province's news portal.](https://i.ex-cdn.com/theinvestor.vn/files/content/2024/08/14/trang-an-1406.jpg)
Trang An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO cultural and natural heritage site in Ninh Binh, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the province's news portal.
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Vietnam welcomed over 392,000 Indian visitors in 2023, a 231% increase from 2019. In the first half of 2024 alone, the country welcomed 231,000 Indian visitors, a 164% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
These impressive statistics underscore the fact that India has become one of Vietnam’s top 10 international tourist markets for Vietnam. It also highlights the country’s growing popularity among Indian travelers.
The northern province of Ninh Binh is home to the UNESCO world cultural and natural heritage site Trang An Landscape Complex. Trang An is one of 12 coolest Asian film locations to visit, according to Travel + Leisure. The U.S. travel site credits the listing to the province being a filming location for the 2017 blockbuster “Kong: Skull Island.”
Around two hours to the east of Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognized world heritage site, is famous for its cruise tours through the thousands of vegetation-covered islets and towering limestone karst mountains.
A Skyscanner report released in late 2023 shows that Indian tourists are most interested in visiting Da Nang, with the central coastal city topping their destination searches; and the capital city of Hanoi is another top 10 draw. Scotland-based Skycanner is one of the world's largest flight travel search platforms.
Hanoi, home to UNESCO heritage site Thang Long Imperial Citadel and ancient pagodas as well as historical relics, came fifth on the list with a 396% search increase year-on-year after Japan’s Osaka (435%).
- Read More
Former Saigon Co.op chairman has prison sentence reduced to 8 years
A court of appeal in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday reduced the prison sentence for Diep Dung, former chairman of state-controlled retailer Saigon Co.op, from 10 years to 8 years, though he did not appeal.
Society - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 11:01 pm GMT+7
Four Vietnam airports to suspend operations as typhoon 'strongest in a decade' approaches
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has ordered a Saturday suspension of aircraft operations at four airports as the super typhoon Yagi is considered the strongest one to impact the East Sea in a decade.
Society - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 10:45 pm GMT+7
Indonesia to raise rice reserves to 2 mln tonnes by year-end
Indonesia's National Food Agency (Bapanas) aims to increase government rice reserves to 2 million tonnes by the end of this year as rice demand is expected to rise in the last months of the year.
Southeast Asia - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 9:49 pm GMT+7
Brunei, India elevate bilateral relations
Brunei and India have agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to an “Enhanced Partnership” after recent talks between Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Brunei's capital Bandar Seri Begawan.
Southeast Asia - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 9:46 pm GMT+7
Thailand optimistic about domestic sugar supply
Thailand’s domestic sugar supply is sufficient to meet demand in the industrial and household sectors this year, with total consumption at 1.27 million tonnes in the first half, according to the country’s Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB).
Southeast Asia - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 9:45 pm GMT+7
Indonesia optimistic about nickel price stability
The Indonesian government is optimistic that nickel prices will be kept stable near current levels in the future, as new plants in the world’s biggest producer offset rising demand and keep the market well supplied, according to Bloomberg.
Southeast Asia - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 9:42 pm GMT+7
Malaysia strives to become leading AI hub in Southeast Asia
Malaysia will establish a National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Office in November this year as a step to position itself as a leading AI hub in Southeast Asia, the country's Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has announced.
Southeast Asia - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 9:40 pm GMT+7
Top Southeast Asia exporter Vietnam needs more infrastructure investment: McKinsey
As Southeast Asia's biggest exporter, Vietnam's projected infrastructure investment is below the optimum level required to match its trade growth, says McKinsey & Company.
Economy - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 9:25 pm GMT+7
S Korea realty giant keen on 184 ha golf course project in central Vietnam
Government-owned Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) has shown interest in developing a 184-hectare golf course project in central Vietnam as the company seeks to expand its presence in the country.
Real Estate - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 5:41 pm GMT+7
Vietnam developer Becamex IDC issues bonds, shares to expand industrial property portfolio
State-controlled Becamex IDC Corp, a leading eco-industrial and urban real estate developer in Vietnam, has been actively using corporate bond and share issuance channels to expand its realty portfolio.
Industrial real estate - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 5:36 pm GMT+7
Vietnam attracts $20.5 bln in registered Jan-Aug FDI, Asian economies remain top investors
Registered foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam hit $20.52 billion in the first eight months of the year, up 7% year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
Economy - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 3:26 pm GMT+7
China’s Great Wall Motor to assemble vehicles in Vietnam next year
Great Wall Motor (GWM) will build a complete-knocked-down (CKD) vehicle assembly factory in Vietnam, beginning localized production and sales by the end of 2025, the Chinese auto giant said Thursday.
Industries - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 2:55 pm GMT+7
Chinese air-conditioning firm Sanhua opens expanded factory in northern Vietnam
Sanhua (Vietnam) Company Limited inaugurated Thursday its expanded factory, part of a $60.8 million investment, in the northern coastal city of Hai Phong.
Industries - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 1:44 pm GMT+7
Vietnam companies urged to balance profits and social goals
Businesses in Vietnam should not delay embedding social and environmental objectives into their core strategies, wrote Santiago Velasquez, associate program manager for the MBA program, and Burkhard Schrage, associate head of the management department at The Business School, RMIT Vietnam.
Consulting - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 11:49 am GMT+7
Japan-invested finance firm Mcredit sees H1 profit drop 87%
Hanoi-based MB Shinsei Finance Company, popularly known as Mcredit, earned a net profit of VND43 billion ($1.73 million) in the first half of the year, down 87% year-on-year.
Finance - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 11:13 am GMT+7
Gojek to exit Vietnamese market in mid-Sept
Gojek, the ride-hailing arm of Indonesia-based tech giant GoTo, will cease operations in Vietnam on September 16 after more than six years in business.
Companies - Thu, September 5, 2024 | 9:22 am GMT+7