sea games 31 torch relay held in hanoi picture 1
Vietnam is represented by hopefuls such as Vu Thanh An (fencing), Do Thi Anh Nguyet (archery), Dang Hong Ha (shooting), Nguyen Thi Tam (boxing), Vu Tien Dung (Pencat Silat) and Nguyen Thi Lua (wrestling).
They first move from Trinh Hoai Duc Competition House to President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to pay tribute to the late great Vietnamese leader.
Hanoi Mayor Chu Ngoc Anh, other officials and 11 athletes lay a wreath at President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to pay tribute to the late President.
They then move to President Ho Chi Minh Museum to get the fire.
Fencer Vu Thanh An says he is very happy to be the holder of the torch during the relay.
The athletes are escorted by 31 soldiers of the Mausoleum Command.
Vu Manh Ha, director of the Ho Chi Minh Museum passes the sacred flame to Hanoi Mayor Chu Ngoc Anh.
Hanoi Mayor Chu Ngoc Anh then hands over the flame to fencer Vu Thanh An to continue the relay to My Dinh National Stadium.
31 large displacement motorcycles representing the 31st SEA Games are lined up in two rows to escort athletes through main streets in Hanoi.
The sacred fire is then moved to My Dinh stadium’s President Ho Chi Minh Worship Hall where it is stored.
The flame is lit in a lamp and kept there until the opening day of the Southeast Asian Games.
The opening ceremony of the 31st SEA Games will take place on the evening of May 12 at My Dinh National Stadium. The sacred fire will burn until on May 23.