HANOI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam aims to place in the top three at the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines later this year, according to the country's General Department of Sports and Physical Training.

In order to finish third at the 56-sport Games, sports officials and experts calculated that Vietnam would need to take home at least 65 gold medals.

The Philippines has excluded some events which Vietnam traditionally excels in, such as 5,000m and 10,000m, race-walking, and 800m freestyle swimming, said the department.

At the previous SEA Games in 2017 in Malaysia, Vietnam ranked third with 59 golds, 50 silvers and 61 bronze medals, behind the host country and Thailand.

This year's SEA Games opens on November 30 and concludes on December 11.