Painter Nguyen Thai Hung choose Trâu Vàng, the golden water buffalo as the mascot for the 22nd SEA Games. With a gentle and harmonious nature, the clever Buffalo has become synonymous with the water and rice cilivization that is so important in Vietnam, as well as in other Southeast Asian countries.

To Vietnamese people, the Golden Buffalo symbolizes a golden harvest, prosperity, happiness, power and the Vietnamese martial spirit.