The 2021 Southeast Asian Games (Vietnamese: Đại hội Thể thao Đông Nam Á 2021, lit.

The country had previously submitted a bid to host the 2018 Asian Games and won, but later withdrew due to financial restraints.

While Ho Chi Minh City was initially favoured, Hanoi is later deemed to be the more suitable location due to its existing sporting infrastructure.

This came after the Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng ordered provinces and cities to not build new sporting facilities as a cost-saving measure, following the country's withdrawal from hosting the 2018 Asian Games due to financial restraints.

[7][8] According to Hanoi's submitted proposal to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), the city would spend 1.7 trillion VND ($77 million) on preparing and organizing the 2-week games running from late November to December.

However, another 8.2 trillion VND ($360 million) is needed for the construction of Rach Chiec National Sports Complex while an athletes' village will not be built.

[23][24] However, on June 9, 2021, the Vietnam Olympic Committee proposed that the SEA Games 31 be held in July 2022 due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

[25][26][27] Myanmar and host Vietnam supported the proposal, while Laos was neutral, and Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, and East Timor all opposed it.

[29][30][31] On the afternoon of July 8, during the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang confirmed that SEA Games 31 will be postponed to a more suitable time.

[41] The proposed budget allocated by the Vietnamese government for this edition of SEA Games was initially estimated to be 1.6 trillion VND (US$69.3 million).

[53] The torch relay was held 31 days prior to the opening ceremony, representing 31 editions of the Southeast Asian Games.

Hải Phòng and Quảng Ninh expressed interest in free entry for all spectators, with the latter being the largest cluster of venues outside of Hanoi.

These mascots took inspirations from various Vietnamese animals: the endangered species saola, the mythical creature "con nghê", and tigers.

Hiếu's logo is inspired by the combined images of a dove and a human hand to create the "V" shape,[65] representing the words "victory" and "Vietnam".

This idea originates from the image of an athlete placing his hand on his left chest, singing the National Anthem before each sacred match.

The mascot of the 2021 Southeast Asian Games is Sao La, inspired by the saola – a rare mammal native to central Vietnam.

[63] "For a Stronger Southeast Asia" (Vietnamese: Vì một Đông Nam Á mạnh mẽ hơn) was chosen as the slogan of this edition.

During the International Press Conference held on 28 February 2022, "Let's Shine" (Vietnamese: Hãy Tỏa Sáng), the official theme song of the 31st SEA Games, was revealed.

[69] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all athletes and officials entering Vietnam were required to have a negative PCR-based COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their departure.

The stage is designed with 44 projectors for demonstrating projection mapping technology and the stadium pitch was turned into a display surface.

The stories of bamboo and wet rice culture, which represent the flexibility and resistance of the Vietnamese people and the lotus as the national flower, were among the elements featured in the ceremony.

The third performance, "Shining Southeast Asia", shows the strength of solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and ASEAN countries.

[83][84] The ceremony began with the introduction of several dignitaries including Vietnamese President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, President of the National Assembly Vương Đình Huệ, Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam and Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore Tan Chuan Jin to the audiences.

[87][88] The ceremony, bearing the theme "Coming Together to Shine", featured three main performances which included: 'My Hanoi, Your Love', 'Gathering' and 'Shining' to mark the rejuvenation of sports in Southeast Asia after being halted since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Athletes Nguyễn Thị Oanh and Nguyen Huy Hoang (Vietnam), Josh Atkinson (Thailand), and Quah Jing Wen (Singapore) were awarded the "Best Athletes Award" during the ceremony to commend their achievements during the games, breaking Southeast Asian Games records.

The flag of the Southeast Asian Games Federation was eventually lowered and handed over to Cambodia, the host country of the 2023 edition.