At the IDOL 2025 World Circus Festival in Moscow, Russia, the mesmerizing aerial silk act Du Sen (Aerial Lotus Silk) performed by Pham Huong, Luu Huong, Hong Thuy, and Meritorious Artist Lo Ngoc Thuy was awarded Special Prize. The piece was so good that it was also invited for a special showing at the renowned Circus on Lenin Hill, recognised as a hub for world-class, modern circus artistry in Russia.

This marked the second appearance at the Moscow festival for all four Vietnamese artists who made their return an emotional and pride-filled reunion. Du Sen managed to impress audiences with their intricate technique and poignant symbolism. The act was inspired by the lotus, the national flower of Vietnam, and blended together traditional Vietnamese music and costumes with the expressive language of circus performance.

Held from July 17 to 20, IDOL 2025 brought together performers from 15 countries, namely Russia, the United States, China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Vietnam, Mongolia, Hungary, Mexico, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Australia, Portugal, and Chile.

Meanwhile, the VCF also shone at the third International Circus Festival in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where the aerial pair Duo Love claimed the gold medal. Performed by Meritorious Artists Thanh Tuan and Thu Huong, the piece captivated the judging panel due to its technical brilliance and emotional depth, outperforming strong contenders from countries with well-established circus traditions such as Russia, China, Ukraine, and Argentina.

One of the most striking moments featured the two artists suspended mid-air by their teeth, executing a kiss-like pose at a height of nearly 10 meters without any safety harnesses. The act’s finale astonished the jury: artist Thu Huong hung by one leg while using her hair to support Thanh Tuan, who simultaneously performed a spinning aerial move suspended by his teeth - a technique rarely seen on the global stage.

In addition to the performance awards, People's Artist Tong Toan Thang, director of the Vietnam Circus Federation, was honoured with an invitation to serve on the festival’s judging panel. The panel comprised 11 members from Russia, the US, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Vietnam.

Vietnam wins silver prize at World Circus Art Festival in Russia

A performance “Du non 4 nu” (four female artists swing on conical hat) of the Vietnam Circus Federation (VCF) won silver medal at the World Circus Art Festival “IDOL-2024) which was wrapped up on July 22 in Moscow, Russia, according to Tong Toan Thang, the VCF’s director.