HANOI, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Some 16,000 people, including 11,000 athletes, coaches and referees will take part in the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam's Hanoi capital in 2021, according to the country's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Tuesday.

The 31st SEA Games is scheduled to last for 17 days, and the 11th ASEAN Para Games for 11 days in Hanoi between October and December 2021. Around 4,000 people, including 2,100 disabled athletes, coaches and referees will participate in the Para Games.

Vietnam hosted SEA Games for the first time in 2003, when it topped the medal tally, followed by Thailand and Indonesia. At the 29th SEA Games in 2017 in Malaysia, the host country finished first, tailed by Thailand and Vietnam.

SEA Games is a biennial multi-sport event involving participations from the current 11 Southeast Asian nations.