A ceremony will be held in Hanoi on April 28 night to see off the sports delegation of Vietnam to the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31), which will run between May 12 and 23.

The event is aimed at encouraging the competitive spirit of the Vietnamese players, towards achieving the best performance and topping the medal tally in the event. The Vietnamese delegation comprises a total of 1,341 people, including nearly 1,000 athletes.

Many of the athletes are veteran competitors, including Huy Hoang in swimming, Quach Thi Lan, Nguyen Thi Oanh, Bui Thu Thao in athletics, Thanh Tung in gymnastics, Vu Thanh An in fencing, Nguyen Thi Tam in boxing or Truong Thi Kim Tuyen in taekwondo.

Besides, Vietnam will also send young athletes to the regional sports arena for them to hone their skills for big tournaments in the future.

SEA Games 31 banners in a Hanoi street. Photo: Thuy Nguyen

Tran Duc Phan, deputy head of the General Department of Physical Training and Sports, who is also head of the Vietnamese sports delegation, said the preparation for the send-off ceremony has been carefully reviewed.

According to the registered preliminary list, 965 athletes of Vietnam will compete in SEA Games 31 (534 men and 431 women), Phan said, adding that they are set to compete in all 40 sports of the Games, striving to win 140 gold, 77 silver, and 71 bronze medals and secure the top place in the tally.

Themed “For a stronger Southeast Asia” and with a strong force participating in all the 40 sports at SEA Games 31, the Vietnamese delegation has set itself the goal of topping the medal table with some 140 gold medals.

The opening ceremony of SEA Games 31 will take place at 8:00 pm on May 12 at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi. This is the second time that Vietnam hosts the Games, the largest sporting event in the region, after the 22nd in 2003. To date, all preparations for the Games have been completed and Vietnam is ready for the important festival.

Delegation Registration Meeting (DRM) will take place in Hanoi from May 1-5 to confirm the official registration of all athletes who will compete in the upcoming SEA Games.

Artists rehearse for SEA Games 31 opening ceremony. Photo: sovhtt.hanoi.gov.vn

The event will gather chiefs of delegations and National Olympic Committees of Southeast Asian nations, both in-person and virtual formats.

The meeting will discuss and confirm all information regarding the organization of SEA Games 31, including the number of athletes, entry and exit procedures, venues, accommodations, match schedules, doping testing to transport, logistics, reception, healthcare, and security services, and more.

At the SEA Games 30 in 2019, Vietnam finished second in the overall medal tally, with 98 golds, 85 silvers, and 105 bronzes, just behind the host Philippines.

SEA Games 31 is an event of great significance as it has helped to boost cooperation and development among Southeast Asian countries. It is also an opportunity for the host country to advertise its land, people, and culture.

By successfully hosting the event, Vietnam will convey positive messages affirming a strong and responsible Vietnam in the eyes of international friends. For Hanoi in particular, the Games will provide a good chance to promote its image as the “City for Peace”, a civilized capital with time-honored culture.