The opening ceremony of the Southeast Asia Youth Festival is held to welcome the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31). The event takes place at the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian zone in the district of the same name at the heart of Hanoi on May 7. The event is jointly arranged by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Youth Federation, the student association of Hanoi and other organisations. SEA Games 31, the region's largest sporting event, will begin later this month and feature over 40 sports, and 526 events with the attendance of around 10,000 athletes and officials from the 11 Southeast Asian countries. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A drum performance at the festival. An array of activities are held at the festival to promote Vietnamese culture and people’s cordiality to Southeast Asian and international friends. The event saw the participation of representatives from the embassies of Southeast Asian countries as well as Vietnamese ministries and agencies. It brought together more than 11,000 young people from the 11 regional countries, volunteers of SEA Games 31. Competitions in the framework of the regional sporting event will be held in 12 provinces and cities, with Hanoi being the key location. Vietnam aims to win 140 gold, 77 silver and 71 bronze medals at this regional biennial sporting event. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Delegates take part in the opening ceremony of the festival, which sees the participation of representatives of 11 Southeast Asian countries and nearly 10,000 members of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and youths. SEA Games 31 will take place from May 12-23. This is the second time that Vietnam has hosted the event. The regional sporting event provides a good chance for any host country to show its responsibility to the international community and its hospitality and wish to make contributions to the ASEAN development. A Torch Relay ceremony will be held 31 days before the opening day, departing from northern Phu Tho province, going through 12 provinces and ending in Hanoi. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Delegates from Southeast Asian nations together with Representatives of Hanoi join an activity to officially launch the festival, which is hoped to bridge the gap between youths in Southeast Asia. SEA Games 31’s slogan “For a stronger Southeast Asia” is to convey a message of solidarity to build a thriving ASEAN Community and further promote its role in the international arena. Earlier, the regional sport events’ official logo and mascot have been introduced, with the logo symbolising a flying bird and a V-shaped hand and the mascot based on the saola – a rare animal listed in Vietnam’s Red Book of Endangered Species. The official song for the Games ‘Hay toa sang’ (Let’s shine) is composed by renowned composer Huy Tuan. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

People tour pavilions of Southeast Asian nations at the festival held at the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian zone in downtown Hanoi. On showcase are national flowers, costumes and cuisine of 11 Southeast Asian countries, which are a draw to many festival goers. An array of activities are held at the festival to promote Vietnamese culture and people’s cordiality to Southeast Asian and international friends. The event saw the participation of representatives from the embassies of Southeast Asian countries as well as Vietnamese ministries and agencies. It brought together more than 11,000 young people from the 11 regional countries and volunteers of SEA Games 31. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Festival goers visit a booth displaying traditional products set up by Myanmar youths. SEA Games 31’s slogan “For a stronger Southeast Asia” is to convey a message of solidarity to build a thriving ASEAN Community and further promote its role in the international arena. The official song for the Games ‘Hay toa sang’ (Let’s shine) composed by renowned composer Huy Tuan showed the pride in the culture and people of Vietnam, and highlighted sportsmanship as well as efforts to achieve the best results, with lyrics in Vietnamese language and chorus in English. The song also sends a message of development, solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and international friends. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

People and students from Laos dress in traditional costumes at the festival. An array of activities are held at the festival to promote not only Vietnamese culture and people’s cordiality to Southeast Asian and international friends, but also of other countries in the region. The event saw the participation of representatives from the embassies of Southeast Asian countries as well as Vietnamese ministries and agencies. It brought together more than 11,000 young people from the 11 regional countries and volunteers of SEA Games 31. The sporting event will run in Hanoi and 11 neighbouring localities from May 12 to 23, featuring 40 sports with 526 events. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Traditional paintings of the Philippines on display at the Southeast Asian Youth festival to welcome SEA Games 31. The festival is jointly arranged by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Youth Federation, the student association of Hanoi and other organisations. SEA Games 31, the region's largest sporting event, will begin later this month and feature over 40 sports, and 526 events with the attendance of around 10,000 athletes and officials from the 11 Southeast Asian countries. The event’s slogan “For a stronger Southeast Asia” is to convey a message of solidarity to build a thriving ASEAN Community and further promote its role in the international arena. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Visitors enjoy dishes of Thailand at the country’s booth at the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian zone in downtown Hanoi. On showcase are national flowers, costumes and cuisine of 11 Southeast Asian countries, which are a draw to many festival goers. An array of activities are held at the festival to promote Vietnamese culture and people’s cordiality to Southeast Asian and international friends. The event saw the participation of representatives from the embassies of Southeast Asian countries as well as Vietnamese ministries and agencies. It brought together more than 11,000 young people from the 11 regional countries and volunteers of SEA Games 31. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Aaron, a tourist from the US, says he is excited to enjoy the cuisine of Southeast Asian nations at the festival. The Southeast Asia Youth festival was held to promote the images of Hanoi capital city and Vietnam to international friends, expressing Hanoi’s determination to host the upcoming SEA Games 31 that is safe and leaves an impression. The event is jointly arranged by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Youth Federation, the student association of Hanoi and other organisations. An array of activities are held at the festival to promote not only Vietnamese culture and people’s cordiality to Southeast Asian and international friends, but also of other countries in the region. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Festival goers, including students and youths in Hanoi, join a drawing event to express aspirations, belief, expectation and pride for a prosperous Southeast Asia in the coming time. SEA Games 31, the largest sporting event of the region, will begin later this month, from May 12 to 23, and feature over 40 sports, and 526 events with the attendance of around 10,000 athletes and officials from the 11 Southeast Asian countries. The event’s slogan “For a stronger Southeast Asia” is to convey a message of solidarity to build a thriving ASEAN Community and further promote its role in the international arena. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Young people pose for a photo with the national flag of Vietnam in their hands. The Southeast Asia Youth Festival to welcome SEA Games 31 began at the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian zone in the district of the same name at the heart of Hanoi on May 7. The event saw the participation of representatives from the embassies of Southeast Asian countries as well as Vietnamese ministries and agencies. It brought together more than 11,000 young people from the 11 regional countries, volunteers of SEA Games 31. Some 3,000 volunteers serving the upcoming Games have completed training. Of them, about 1,900 will be working in Hanoi while the rest are assigned to 11 other host localities. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Nilanya Philachan (third left), a Lao student currently studying in Vietnam, poses for commemorative photos with Vietnamese students. She voiced her delight while studying in Vietnam as her friends are truly cordial and supportive, adding that she would like to work in the S-shaped country in the future if she has the opportunity to. Competitions in the framework of the regional sporting event will be held in 12 provinces and cities, with Hanoi being the key location. Vietnam aims to win 140 gold, 77 silver and 71 bronze medals at this regional biennial sporting event. The country bagged 73, 58 and 98 golds in the last three Games from 2015 to 2019, respectively. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Young people wear ‘ao dai’ (Vietnamese traditional long dress). The Southeast Asian Youth Festival saw the participation of representatives from the embassies of Southeast Asian countries as well as Vietnamese ministries and agencies. Visitors joined a wide range of activities, including an exhibition on national flowers and dresses, cuisines and cultures of the countries, walking, painting, street arts and an art gala. The event is jointly arranged by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Youth Federation, the student association of Hanoi and other organisations. The festival was intended to promote the image of Hanoi and Vietnam to regional and international friends. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Visitors to the Southeast Asian Youth festival which is underway at Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian zone in Hanoi. During the 31 days prior to SEA Games 31, different groups of volunteers take the responsibility for promoting Thang Long - Hanoi tourism and ensuring traffic flow, among others, carrying out more than 31,000 activities. Hanoi has launched a 31-day countdown to SEA Games 31. The regional sporting event is an important chance to promote the city’s image as a safe, friendly and attractive destination to domestic and foreign tourists. SEA Games 31 will officially kick off with an opening ceremony held in Hanoi on May 12. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A festival goer visits a booth displaying ‘to he’ (toy figurines with rice dough) of Vietnam. It is a kind of folk toy of Vietnamese children and is edible. In some areas in the north of Vietnam, it was called ‘cake’ because it was created in the shape of a bunch of bananas, arecas, and some popular dishes to form an offering tray to the pagoda along with the shape in popular animals. With colours similar to the real products, to he toys were added sugar so they can be eaten. Later, to he was attached to a trumpet with malt on its tip. When blowing, it produces a soft noise which sounds ‘to he’. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A young visitor tries traditional products of Singapore at the Southeast Asian Youth festival which is underway to welcome the SEA Games. SEA Games 31’s slogan “For a stronger Southeast Asia” is to convey a message of solidarity to build a thriving ASEAN Community and further promote its role in the international arena. Earlier, the regional sport events’ official logo and mascot have been introduced, with the logo symbolising a flying bird and a V-shaped hand and the mascot based on the saola – a rare animal listed in Vietnam’s Red Book of Endangered Species. The official song for the Games ‘Hay toa sang’ (Let’s shine) is composed by renowned composer Huy Tuan. It also sends a message of development, solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and international friends. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A visitor looks at paintings on the upcoming SEA Games 31 being showcased at the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake. SEA Games 31 will run in Hanoi and 11 neighbouring localities from May 12 to 23. It will feature 40 sports with 526 events and expects to attract around 10,000 participants. The biennial event was initially slated for late 2021 but delayed due to the pandemic’s impact. This will be the second time that Vietnam has hosted the biennial regional sporting event following the first time in 2003. Some 3,000 volunteers serving the upcoming Games have completed training, according to the organising committee. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Trinh Hung Tan, head of the Spray Paint Art club of the Hanoi Architectural University is creating a graffiti featuring saola - the mascot of this year’s SEA Games. Saola is a rare animal listed in Vietnam’s Red Book of Endangered Species. The animal, scientifically known as Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, is dubbed the Asian Unicorn because it is so rarely seen, looks like an antelope in appearance, and is recognised by its two parallel horns with sharp ends which can reach up to 50 cm in length. The species was first discovered in May 1992 by a joint team from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the World Wide Fund for Nature. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Young people take part in a street dance contest held in the framework of the festival. The Southeast Asian Youth Festival saw the participation of representatives from the embassies of Southeast Asian countries as well as Vietnamese ministries and agencies. It brought together more than 11,000 young people from the 11 regional countries, volunteers of SEA Games 31, which will be officially held in the capital city of Hanoi and 11 neighbouring cities and provinces from May 12-23. Some 3,000 volunteers serving the upcoming Games have completed training, according to the organising committee. The volunteers are primarily university students in good health and having strong command of foreign languages. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Visitors tour pavilions of Southeast Asian nations set up at the festival, jointly arranged by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Youth Federation, the student association of Hanoi and other organisations. An array of activities are held at the festival to promote not only Vietnamese culture and people’s cordiality to Southeast Asian and international friends, but also of other countries in the region. SEA Games 31 in Vietnam marks the return of regional sporting competitions after a halt due to COVID-19, as more tournaments are scheduled to be held afterwards. This will be the second time that Vietnam has hosted the biennial regional sporting event following the first time in 2003. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Young people attend the festival. On the evening of the same day, an art gala ‘For a stronger South East Asia’ and a musical grand fest to welcome SEA Games 31 were organised. Some 3,000 volunteers serving the upcoming SEA Games 31 have completed training. Of them, about 1,900 will be working in Hanoi. The volunteers are primarily university students in good health and having strong command of foreign languages. They are to support delegations of officials, athletes, coaches, referees and foreign news agencies. Some of them will work as emcees and interpreters during competitions, medal ceremonies and related events, as well as working sessions and press conferences. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Young people across Southeast Asia take part in the event. The festival helps strengthen friendship and solidarity among Southeast Asian youths. Together they have fostered the quintessence of culture for the sake of the building of the ASEAN Community and sustainable development, thereby affirming the region’s position at the international arena. SEA Games 31, themed “For a stronger South East Asia”, will run in Hanoi and 11 neighbouring communities, from May 12 to 23. The plan is to feature 40 sports with 526 categories and attract the participation of 10,000 people. The Vietnamese delegation attending this year’s Games will comprise 1,359 members. (Photo: VietnamPlus)