SEA Games 31: Vietnamese judo team see gold number tripling target
After four days of competition, the Vietnamese judo team has won nine gold medals, three times higher than the set target for the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).
Hoang Thi Tinh wins a gold medal in the under-48kg category. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – After four days of competition, the Vietnamese judo team has won nine gold medals, three times higher than the set target for the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).
On May 21 alone, Vietnamese judokas pocketed three gold medals, one by Hoang Thi Ha in the under-45kg event, Hoang Thi Tinh in the under-48kg category, and Nguyen Hoang Thanh in the under-55kg event.
Three respective runners-up are Ngamluan Pimngam from Thailand, Muenjit Wanwisa also from Thailand, and Mercado Daryl John from the Philippines.
Coach Nguyen Duy Khanh attributed the success to the high determination of the athletes.
He said that in order to prepare for SEA Games 31, right from 2019, Vietnam formed the national judo team for training. Therefore, Vietnamese judokas have seen great progress and showed good performance, he added.
Judo competitions will continue on May 22.
SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, is underway in Vietnam from May 12 – 23 in 12 cities and provinces. The regional biennial event welcomes almost 10,000 coaches, officials, and athletes who are competing in 40 sports./.
SEA Games 31, which officially opened in Hanoi on May 12 night, will create a boost to economic and tourism recovery and development in Vietnam and ASEAN at large, a Vietnamese tourism official has said.
Patience and perseverance have paid off for Singapore’s athletics contingent at the SEA Games 31, who returned to the homeland on May 20 with their best total medal haul for almost 30 years, according to The Straits Times.
Philippine tennis players Ruben Gonzales and Treat Huey pocketed the men’s doubles gold after getting the best of fellow Philippines Jeson Patrombon and Francis Casey Alcantara on May 21 during the ongoing 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).
Vietnam secured two more gold medals in two canoeing events held in Hai Phong city on May 21, raising the total number of gold medals of the host in this sport at SEA Games 31 to eight.
The Vietnamese women’s football team had a 1-0 win over the Thai rivals to take the gold medal in the final match on May 21 at Cam Pha Gymnasium, Quang Ninh province, at the on-going SEA Games 31.
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.
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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.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
Hoang Thi Tinh wins a gold medal in the under-48kg category. (Photo: VNA) 
