Artist Le Sa Long crafted a series of seven paintings within three days to commemorate 56 dead victims of a recent fatal fire in Hanoi, while also conveying his appreciation for the relentless efforts of both emergency responders and compassionate civilians who fought the blaze and aided the struggling victims.

Long, a member of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association, joined numerous Vietnamese citizens from across Vietnam in closely monitoring news about the fire at an apartment block in Thanh Xuan District of the capital on Tuesday night last week.

The conflagration hit the apartment block down a narrow alley on Khuong Ha Street in the district and claimed the lives of 56 people while injuring 37 others.

The tragedy inspired Long to dedicate nearly three days to crafting seven paintings in remembrance of the lost victims.

Out of the seven paintings, five form a sequential narrative. 

The initial one portrays the scene of the tragic incident, while the subsequent paintings describe the efforts of emergency responders extinguishing the flames and rescuing individuals from the engulfed building.

The last two paintings consist of individual portraits. 

In one, he depicts Nguyen Dang Van, a 30-year-old deliveryman from Bac Ninh Province in northern Vietnam, who valiantly assisted in the rescue of nine people from the fire. 

In the other portrait, Long painted Pham Quoc Viet, founder and leader of First Aid Support Angels, a civilian charity organization committed to offering prompt first aid assistance for all accidents in Hanoi. 

Viet and his team also provided aid at the scene of the fire last Tuesday night.

“If I have the opportunity to meet these two brave young people, Pham Quoc Viet and Nguyen Dang Van, I will present them with their portrait paintings as a gesture of gratitude for their fearless acts of rescuing people without regard to their own safety,” Long said.

Besides, Long is currently working on another oil painting measuring 120cm x 160cm, centered around a rare moment of respite among the firefighters after they successfully combated the deadly blaze on Tuesday night.

He plans to put this painting up for auction, with the proceeds to be used as support for the families of the 56 deceased victims.

The artist said he worked diligently to finish the first seven paintings on Sunday night, just before various Hanoi departments and organizations observed a minute of silence in memory of the 56 victims on Monday morning.

The result of his work, however, did not feel rushed at all.

Long conveyed the poignant incident with a touch of compassion and sensitivity, paying tribute to the fire brigade and promoting fire prevention and fighting in a gentle and impactful manner.

He agreed with Hoang Song Viet, a prolific composer of traditional southern Vietnam music and performance ‘cai luong,’ on transforming this heart-wrenching incident into works of literature and art as a means to raise people’s awareness about the importance of fire prevention and fighting, particularly in densely-populated urban areas like Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City.

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Vietnamese artists Hien Phuoc and Thanh Hoa won the silver prize for their circus act titled ‘Moment of Love’ at the second ‘Without Borders’ International Circus Festival, which wrapped up on Sunday (local time) in Russia.

The judging panel awarded three gold medals to performances from two Russian teams and one Chinese representative, according to Le Dien, director at the Phuong Nam Art Theater’s circus in Ho Chi Minh City, which manages the Vietnamese circus duo.

Two more silver medals were presented to two other Russian performances.

Four bronze medals went to the teams from Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Bulgaria.

Vietnam’s Hien Phuoc and Thanh Hoa were invited to the second ‘Without Borders’ International Circus Festival, jointly organized by the Russian Ministry of Culture and the Russian State Circus Company in St. Petersburg, after securing a gold medal at the International Circus Festival in Almaty City, Kazakhstan in July with the same performance.

Teams with about 200 artists from 16 countries and regions, including Russia, China, Mexico, Italy, and Ethiopia, participated in the fest from September 14 to 17 (local time).

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Boat service for tourists on the Nho Que River, a popular destination in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam, has been suspended since Saturday as a result of an unresolved disagreement concerning the temporary management plan for tourist transportation services on the river.

Tu San Agricultural and Tourism Service Cooperative, the only tourist boat service provider on the Nho Que River, located in Meo Vac District, said that its passenger transportation contract with Nho Que 1 Hydropower JSC expired on September 15.

As per the announcement made on the same day, both the parties and the People’s Committee of Meo Vac District had not found a suitable resolution for extending the contract. 

Consequently, the cooperative made the decision to temporarily suspend the operation of tourist boats on the Nho Que River.

A 30-minute boat ride on the river, whose tickets cost VND100,000 (US$4.12) per person, takes tourists to Tu San Canyon, through the same route to the Nho Que 1 Hydropower Plant, and return to the boat dock.

Reputed to be Southeast Asia’s deepest canyon, Tu San Canyon boasts awe-inspiring features, including cliffs towering up to 800 meters, a length of 1.7 kilometers, and an astonishing depth of nearly one kilometer.

This canyon is the result of a wondrous process that unfolded millions of years ago, back when this area was submerged beneath the vast ocean. 

Through geological transformations, as the earth’s crust shifted and waters receded, erosion gradually shaped this distinctive and enduring geological marvel.

The canyon, along with the Nho Que River and Ma Pi Leng Mountain Pass, constitutes a trifecta of stunning natural landscapes in Meo Vac District, Ha Giang, making it an unmissable destination for tourists visiting the northern mountainous province.

The temporary halt in tourist boat services on the Nho Que River implies that travelers visiting Ha Giang during this period will miss the chance to encounter the renowned canyon.

However, there are alternative experiences available for visitors to select from, Giap Van Hai, a longtime professional tour designer and tour guide in Ha Giang, told the news site VnExpress.

Hai suggests that tourists consider embarking on a trek along the White Cliffs trail, which provides a gorgeous panoramic view of the Nho Que River and Tu San Canyon. 

The trek covers a distance of five kilometers and typically takes between 2.5 and 3.5 hours, depending on the physical condition and preferences of the visitors.

In addition, travelers can visit the section dubbed a ‘mini Tu San’ on the same Nho Que River for activities like stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, or traditional boating. 

This area, known as Khau Vai Canyon, is situated in the northern part of Meo Vac District, along the border between Ha Giang and Cao Bang Provinces. 

Similar to the famous Tu San Canyon, Khau Vai Canyon, located at the base of Ma Pi Leng Mountain Pass, boasts striking cliffs on both sides and a picturesque turquoise river.

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