The festival will be held from December 16-22 to provide opportunities for Vietnamese students to share experiences in sports with SEA students.

Speaking at the press conference, Head of the organising board, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Tran Van Nhung said the event will attract around 1,424 athletes and coaches from nine countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Some 250 Vietnamese athletes and 50 coaches will participate in the festival.

Athletes will compete in 12 sport events, including track-and-field, swimming, football, table-tennis, volleyball, basket ball, badminton, chess, karatedo, pencak silat, taekwondo and tennis.

Students eligible for the competition will include those in the 18-28 age group studying at colleges and universities and having training experience in sports events.

According to the organising board, the Ministry of Finance has proposed to the Prime Minister for VND50 billion in support of the festival. Of the total funding, VND5 billion will come from participating countries and VND45 billion from the state budget.