At the International Circus Festival in Almaty, Kazakhstan in late July 2025, which gathered nearly 160 artists from 15 countries, the Vietnamese act “Duo Love” performed by Meritorious Artists Thanh Tuan and Thu Huong won the Gold Prize.

The performance impressed with its meticulous staging, highlighting a message of love, dedication, and courage. The duo’s skill culminated in a rare feat: Thu Huong, suspended upside down by one leg, supported Thanh Tuan entirely by her hair as he spun mid-air - a technique few artists worldwide can execute. “Duo Love” is now set to compete at the “Without Borders” International Circus Festival in Saint Petersburg, Russia, this September.

Earlier in mid-July, the act “Lotus Swing” by artists Pham Huong, Luu Huong, Hong Thuy, and Meritorious Artist Lo Ngoc Thuy earned the Special Prize at the IDOL 2025 World Circus Art Festival in Moscow. This breathtaking performance combined circus artistry with traditional dance, music, and costume. Audiences marveled at the “living lotus flowers” and the performers’ endurance - executing a human chain suspended 10 meters in the air, with one artist biting a partner’s hair while both spun in mid-air.

“Lotus Swing” was later invited to perform in “The Winners” show at the Lenin Hill Circus in Russia, a venue considered one of the world’s leading circus centers.

These achievements add to the Vietnam Circus Federation’s growing collection of awards, including the Gold Crown at Russia’s Princess of the Circus competition (2022) and Silver Prizes at major festivals in 2023 and 2024.

Innovation for breakthrough success

According to People’s Artist Tong Toan Thang, Director of the Vietnam Circus Federation, international juries now judge performances on both technical skill and artistry. This requires acts to go beyond individual tricks, ensuring unity in theme, movement, music, props, and costumes.

Vietnam’s recent successes stem from careful choreography, inventive use of props, and maximizing performers’ strengths - such as thick, strong hair that enables unique hair-suspension techniques. The integration of modern circus language with traditional Vietnamese cultural elements in music, costume, and storytelling has given the country’s acts a distinctive edge.

Experts agree that sustaining high-level success will require investment in talent development, improved benefits for artists, and modernized performance facilities. These steps will ensure a steady stream of skilled young performers, fueling Vietnam’s creative potential and strengthening its foothold on the global stage.

PV