Vietnam Holds the 31st Southeast Asian SEA Games

The 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, also known as the 2021 Southeast Asian Games, is currently held in Hanoi, Vietnam. It runs from May 12 until May 23, 2022, with the motto “For A Stronger Southeast Asia”. The SEA Games is a multi-sport competition occurring every two years and participated by 11 countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and also Vietnam. It features 40 sports that are primarily competed in the Olympic Games. The first Southeast Asian Games took place in Bangkok, Thailand from December 12 – 17, 1959. It was participated by more than 527 athletes from 6 nations   

The SEA Games Symbol 

The Southeast Asian Games symbol consists of 11 rings representing the 11 member nations. This year’s logo is a combination of stylized five fingers shaped into an image of a dove that signifies peace with the ring symbol over i.  

The Host Country 

Situated on the easternmost edge of the Indochinese Peninsula, the Republic of Vietnam is a developing nation in the region with an entrenched Dong Son culture and also a mix of Chinese traditions. This isn’t the first that the country has hosted the SEA Games. The 2003 edition was also held in Hanoi, Vietnam in December 2003.  The current games being held were supposed to take place at the end of 2021 however due to the COVID19 pandemic they were pushed into 2022.

Vietnamese Dong 

The recent series of Vietnamese currency is all printed on polymer and was introduced by the State Bank of Vietnam which is located in Hanoi. Each banknote depicts the country’s coat of arms and also a portrait of Ho Chi Minh on the obverse. Their reverse design varies and is inspired by Vietnam’s culture. The 10,000 Dong banknote depicts oil derricks from the Bach Ho Oil Field. The Japanese pagoda bridge is shown on the 20,000 dong paper bill. The Phu Van Lau pavilion is reflected on the 50,000 note. Meanwhile, the reverse of the 100,000 Vietnamese dong bears the Temple of Literature. The 200,000 Dong illustrates the rocks from the Ha Long Bay. The 500,000 note depicts Ho Chi Minh’s birthplace in the Kim Lien Village.