Hanoi capital city ready for SEA Games 31: Official
Hanoi has completed preparations for the 31st Southeast Asian Games which will open in a week, according to the national SEA Games 31 organising committee.
A panel of SEA Games 31 placed at the Hoan Kiem lake area in downtown Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Hanoi has completed preparations for the 31st Southeast Asian Games which will open in a week, according to the national SEA Games 31 organising committee.
The city is ready for the region’s largest sports event, Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports Do Dinh Hong told reporters.
The city has renovated a number of sport venues for the games, and given a facelift to and cleaned up the city’s streets, he said, adding that measures are being taken to ensure food safety and social order and security and to deliver logistics, healthcare and transport services for the event.
Hanoi will be hosting the opening and closing ceremonies of SEA Games 31. Closely coordinating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports is racing against time to rehearse for the ceremonies and to bring the audience the most exciting art shows, he noted.
The opening will hopefully tell local and international audiences stories about the unique culture, tradition and people of Vietnam and promote the games’ slogan “For a stronger Southeast Asia,” he continued.
He further noted that the 120-minute opening ceremony will feature nearly 3,000 performers and athletes.
The official said that the capital city is set to contribute one third of the medals earned by the Vietnamese sports delegation.
In 2019, close to 25 percent of 568 Vietnamese athletes to the SEA Games 30 in the Philippines were from Hanoi. Hanoian athletes brought home 34 gold, 27 silver and 26 bronze medals during the games./.
Hosting SEA Games 31 is viewed as a “golden opportunity” for Vietnam to popularise its nature and people and to promote its reputation internationally.
The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on May 4 launched a special website on the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31), at //seagames.vnanet.vn, which will be hosted by Vietnam from May 12-23.
SEA Games 31 is the first major international event Vietnam will host after re-opening its borders following the COVID-19 pandemic, representing a golden opportunity for Hanoi, which is hosting the opening and closing ceremonies and most sports, to re-establish its position as a destination for international events.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is head of the National Steering Committee for Organising the 31st SEA Games, on May 3 inspected the preparation for the regional sports games in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces.
It is the first time that the country is to hold a G1-level tournament which is expected to lure more than 100 athletes of 15 countries and regions at Go Vap Gymnasium.
Nguyen Trong Nha Uyen has made history for Vietnam’s dancesport by clinching a bronze medal in the solo Latin category at the WDSF World Championship 2025 in Germany.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
A panel of SEA Games 31 placed at the Hoan Kiem lake area in downtown Hanoi. (Photo: VNA) 
