Athlete Quach Thi Lan will replace shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh to light the cauldron of the 31st SEA Games. Photo: Minh Anh/ phapluatxahoi.tinhtedothi.vn

Lan, a member of the Vietnamese track and field team, will compete in the 400m races this time. She was qualified to compete at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, won a gold medal at Asian Games 2018 and competed in the SEA Games in 2013 and 2015.

A ritual to ask for the flame of the SEA Games torch will be performed on Friday evening at Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi. The flag raising ceremony of participating countries will take place next Wednesday at My Dinh National Stadium. At the opening ceremony next Thursday evening, swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang will read the oath on behalf of the athletes.