Cam Pha Stadium is among five competition venues of SEA Games 31 in Quang Ninh, in addition to the northeastern province’s gymnasium, Tuan Chau beach, the Planning and Expo Centre, and Legacy Yen Tu five-star resort. The Cam Pha Stadium is located at the centre of Quang Ninh province’s Cam Pha city, on the banks of Bai Tu Long Bay. It is the home of Quang Ninh Coal football club. With a capacity of 16,000, the stadium qualifies to host matches for the Asian Football Confederation. Vietnam are in Group A in women’s football along with the Philippines, Indonesia, and Cambodia. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A panoramic view of the stadium. Quang Ninh will host seven out of 40 sports in the Games, including volleyball and women’s football. A health subcommittee of the province is responsible for building plans and assigning personnel for COVID-19 prevention and control and doping test. Quang Ninh also plans to work together with telecom companies to ensure an information technology system serving SEA Games 31. The Games, themed “For a stronger South East Asia”, will run in Hanoi and 11 neighbouring localities from May 12 to 23. It will feature 40 sports with 526 events and expect to attract around 10,000 participants. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Although Cam Pha was built just a few years ago and meets international standards, to fully prepare for SEA Games 31, various facilities at the stadium have undergone renovations. Quang Ninh province’s Organising Board of SEA Games 31 has arranged function rooms to serve delegates, its members, referees and the countries’ delegations. Each competition venue has an oratory to meet the religious needs of competitors. It has also mobilised 300 volunteers who are students of the Ha Long University to support the SEA Games 31. The provincial police have also deployed forces to ensure security and traffic order for the Games (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Some 163 billion VND (7.13 million USD) was allocated to double the capacity of Cam Pha Stadium, to about 17,000 seats. An additional 83 billion VND was disbursed to improve function facilities at the stadium. At the same time, it has a new roof, and its turf and lighting systems improved. The province’s organising board for SEA Games 31 also gives priorities to communications and logistics tasks. About 1,725 members of delegations are projected to travel to Quang Ninh, including 978 athletes. SEA Games 31 will take place on May 12-23 in Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho and Bac Giang. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A contractor takes care of the stadium turf. Due attention has been given to the upgrade of the turf. All the infill and grass have been renewed with Bermuda grass that meets standards for hosting international competitions. SEA Games 31 event was initially slated for late 2021 but delayed due to the pandemic. Matches of the women’s football are set to begin on May 9. Vietnam won gold medals in both men's and women's football in the previous SEA Games. This time, Vietnam are in Group A together with the Philippines, Cambodia and Indonesia. Vietnam are striving to defend their title at this year’s Games on home soil. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A billboard on SEA Games 31 featuring the image of sao la - the event’s mascot - is placed among seats at the spectator stand. Some 15 days before SEA Games 31 kicks off, Cam Pha Stadium will be cleaned, repainted and preparations are in full swing to complete remaining tasks. Meanwhile, a total of 26 players of the Vietnamese women’s football team left for the Republic of Korea on April 6 for intensive training to defend their gold medal at SEA Games 31 this May. The women’s team will face Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia on May 9, 11, and 14 at Cam Pha Stadium. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A modern press conference room at Cam Pha Stadium which is ready to welcome reporters from across Southeast Asia. Facilities inside the stadium have been upgraded. Quang Ninh will welcome about 100 foreign officials and guests, together with some 100 reporters. Venue upgrades have been completed, along with accommodation arrangements for delegates, referees, athletes and coaches. The SEA Games 31 Organising Board in Quang Ninh has pledged to do its utmost to support reporters and set up a hotline to receive feedback and queries. The provincial Department of Tourism has built sight-seeing plans for foreign delegations and organised tourism promotions, particularly at Ha Long Bay, Yen Tu and Quang Ninh Museum. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Preparations have been stepped up at four other competition venues in Quang Ninh as the largest regional sporting event is near. The Quang Ninh multi-purpose gymnasium, capable of accommodating 5,000 spectators, is part of the Sports Centre Complex in the Northeastern region spanning 150,000 sq.m. The three-storey building has a floor area of nearly 34,000 sq.m. The first floor consists of areas for futsal, badminton, basketball, table tennis, handball, gymnastics and martial arts, among others, while the second and third include grandstands, media centres, commentator's box, conference hall and a sound and lighting control room. The organising board also pays due attention to COVID-19 prevention and control, doping test and security-order protection. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The 5,000-seat gymnasium in Dai Yen, Uong Bi city of Quang Ninh is ready to host the men’s and women’s volleyball at SEA Games 31. Organising committees of the Games in localities have been encouraged to give free tickets to spectators during the event, thus spreading the sports spirit in line with the event's slogan “For a stronger Southeast Asia”. The local organising committees have been allowed to decide on the plan to manage, and issue invitations or tickets to events they will host in accordance with the principle of priority. The preparation for SEA Games 31 is being actively implemented by the local national organising committees of 12 localities. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Inside Quang Ninh gymnasium whose upgrade has been completed. It is one of the two largest gymnasiums of SEA Games 31, along with the one in Bac Giang province which will host badminton. More than 1,400 athletes, coaches, referees and organising committee members taking part in SEA Games 31 events in Quang Ninh will be entitled to free admission to popular tourist attractions in the northern province. The upcoming games is the biggest sports event ever hosted by Quang Ninh. It is deemed as a perfect opportunity for the coastal province to introduce its magnificent natural landscapes to international visitors. The province has designated five three- to five-star hotels to accommodate sports delegations, referees and organising committee members. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A close look at the volleyball court at the Quang Ninh gymnasium. A sports delegation of ASEAN countries toured some competition venues for the upcoming SEA Games 31 in Quang Ninh province in March. Deputy Secretary General for Administration of the Philippine Olympic Committee Carl Sambrano highly valued the province’s preparations, particularly at the 5,000-seat gymnasium. Quang Ninh province will host competitions in seven sports, namely beach volleyball, beach handball, triathlon, women’s football, Chinese chess, indoor volleyball and chess, from May 6 - 22. The province expects to welcome about 535 athletes, 414 referees and over 329 coaches during the games. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Preparations are being made on Tuan Chau island as two areas of its beach will host the triathlon and duathlon competitions, beach volleyball and beach handball matches. Located west of Ha Long Bay, Tuan Chau island boasts a man made beach stretching more than 10km. Visitors can tour spectacular features, enjoy the waterpark shows featuring dolphins, seals and sea lions, water music, a circus and amusement park, golf courses, and view Ha Long Bay by helicopter. Quang Ninh is home to various popular destinations such as Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long, and some islands. In particular, Ha Long Bay, literally “descending dragon” bay, was twice recognised as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1994 and 2000. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A beach sand court adorned with a SEA Games 31 signboard. Preparations of sand courts serving matches at SEA Games 31 are nearly finished. Areas surrounding competition venues have been cleaned up for the installation of mobile spectator stands. More than 1,400 athletes, coaches, referees and organising committee members are set to take part in SEA Games 31 in Quang Ninh province, while it will welcome about 100 foreign officials and guests, together with some 100 reporters. SEA Games 31 is the biggest sports event ever hosted by Quang Ninh. It is deemed as a perfect opportunity for the coastal province to introduce its magnificent natural landscapes to international visitors. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Quang Ninh Planning and Expo Centre will host chess competitions at the SEA Games 31. Located on the coast of Ha Long Bay, the Quang Ninh Planning and Expo Centre covers an area of about 62,000 sq.m., with construction on 20,700 sq.m., resembling a wave-riding dolphin. Almost all facilities have been upgraded and the centre will soon be equipped with chess tables and chairs. Chess Grandmasters Le Quang Liem and Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son are gold medal hopefuls of Vietnam at the upcoming SEA Games 31. Vietnam’s chess team has set targets in accordance with its preparations for the regional event. (Photo: VietnamPlus) VNA
