Pham Thi To Trang, Deputy Director of the Hai Phong Department of Culture and Sports, said that up to now, preparations and facilities have been completed.

Thuy Nguyen district has well ensured conditions such as security and order, traffic safety, safety for foreign athletes and supporters. They will also stop the operation of inland waterway wharves and vehicles on river routes during the tournament, and take the initiative in supplying electricity, and well implement the river surface sanitation.

According to the official, the tournament is an opportunity for Hai Phong city to further improve the quality of organising large-scale competitions, improve facilities to meet international competition conditions, and serve as a premise for the plan to host international tournaments in Asia and the world in the future.

The championships will attract more than 500 athletes as well as 103 officials and coaches from seven out of 11 Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the host Vietnam.

The tournaments - the most prestigious ones in the region, will gather the best athletes from national teams, U19 teams, and U23 teams of the countries.

The tournaments will allow Vietnamese athletes to sharpen their skills, promote rowing and canoeing in the Southeast Asian countries, and select athletes to attend the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand.

With experiences in organising many major national and international boat racing tournaments, Hai Phong is urgently preparing the best conditions to entice more Southeast Asia competitions./.VNA