Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh attended the ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City and presented the national flag to the team, offering encouragement to athletes and coaches before their departure.

He reminded that beyond winning medals, Paralympic athletes embody the spirit of resilience, overcoming adversity, and striving for excellence – the values that inspire society at large. He called on the team to compete with unity, integrity, and true sportsmanship, continuing to elevate the standing of Vietnamese Paralympic sports in the region.

Deputy Director of the Sports Authority of Vietnam Le Thi Hoang Yen, head of Vietnamese delegation, said the athletes had been fully prepared for the 13th ASEAN Para Games to be held in Korat, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, from January 15 to 27, 2026, aiming to grab between 40 and 50 gold medals and finish among the top four or five teams in the region.

Paralympic weightlifting champion Le Van Cong, representing more than 140 athletes, delivered the athletes’ oath, pledging to compete with maximum effort and bring honour to the nation.

The Vietnamese Paralympic delegation to the 13th ASEAN Para Games consists of 185 members, including 141 athletes competing in 11 sports, including athletics, swimming, weightlifting, badminton, table tennis, chess, judo, boccia, archery, wheelchair tennis, and wheelchair fencing.

The team builds on the outstanding successes at the 11th and 12th ASEAN Para Games, where they secured more than 65 gold medals at each edition.

Vietnamese athletes set new records at ASEAN Para Games 12

The delegation of Vietnamese athletes with disabilities secured the third position on the medal standings and set new records at the 12th ASEAN Para Games that took place in Cambodia from June 3-9.