A group of tourists from Vietnam arrived in Pahalgam on Thursday and described Kashmir a 'paradise', ignoring the tension prevailing in the region following the April 22 terror attack and indulging themselves in cherishing the beauty of the picturesque Indian Union Territory.

The tourists said they felt safe while touring the Himalayan region, which was hit last month when terrorists killed 26 people, mostly non-Muslim visitors, triggering widespread condemnation.

Speaking to ANI, a first time VIetnamese visitor expressed her sheer delight at her experience in the valley and said, "This is the first time I came to Kashmir, and I had a wonderful amazing experience here, I've seen a lot of beautiful nature and how friendly people treat us very well, I feel a great time here. We have also bought a lot of stuff like Kashmiri shawls."

When asked about the Pahalgam attack, she told the Indian news agency: "I also heard that from the internet and some friends. I think because I also want to come here and recover Kashmir by myself so that is why that information did not make me feel scared."

"They protected us very well and treated us very well, so that's why I feel Kashmir is very safe."

Samita, another member of the group, told ANI: "Yes, our group is from Vietnam. In Kashmir it feels like Paradise on earth, it's very different from Vietnam, with white mountains, and the climate is very cool here."

Pahalgam attack and its repercussions

On April 22, 2025, the terrorists- belonging to The Resistance Front (TRF), which is an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)- asked the victims to chant Islamic verses (kalma) and made them pull down their pants to be sure of their their non-Muslim religious identities (read circumcision)  before gunning them down before their families, including wives, children and daughters.

The massacre triggered nationwide outrage and escalated India-Pakistan tensions as New Delhi vowed to avenge the killings.