Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Head of the SEA Games 31 organizing board, Nguyen Ngoc Thien, said: “The success of today’s launch program shows the readiness of the Vietnamese government and people to overcome all difficulties, including the COVID-19 pandemic, to host the biggest Games in Southeast Asia in 2021.”

The 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) and the 11th ASEAN Para Games are scheduled to take from November 21, 2021 to December, 2021 in Hanoi and 10 provinces. Chairman of the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh said: “After 18 years Hanoi is proud to take the responsibility to host another SEA Games in 2021. We commit to fulfill our task to deserve its recognition of a City for Peace with thousands years of culture and civilization.”

Leaders of Hanoi and representatives from foreign embassies activated a clock to count down 365 days to the opening of the SEA Games 31.