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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Tonnes of sea clams have been washed up on a beach in Cam Nhuong Commune in Cam Xuyen District under Ha Tinh Province, located in north-central Vietnam, over the past few days, creating a long purplish strip on the beach.

Locals are flocking to the beach to collect these sea clams, which have a purplish shell, for sale.

High and powerful waves have brought such clams, both dead and alive, onto the coastline.

A resident of Cam Nhuong Commune said that locals often find anadara subcrenata, which has a white or cream-coloured, thick, oval shell, washed ashore by strong waves every year.

However, this year, the shoreline is being covered by clams with purple shells.

Nguyen Van Hung, chairman of the Cam Nhuong People’s Committee, said that powerful waves carry metric tons of anadara subcrenata onto the beach each year.

It was surprising that a huge number of purple clams were washed ashore this year, he added.

The beach has been crowded with locals over the past seven days. They have collected clams, processed them, and sold them.

Many of them pick 20 kilograms of clam flesh a day.

This is the first appearance of purple clams on the beach.

In early September, purple clams were discovered washing ashore at the Thien Cam tourist site in Cam Xuyen District. Tonnes of the clams were collected for sale.

Clam is a kind of bivalve mollusc. They mainly live in tidal flats, and in the seafloor sand that contains a certain volume of freshwater.

In Ha Tinh Province, clams are farmed along the coastlines in Loc Ha District and Thach Ha District.

During the clam harvest season, the prices of the shellfish range from VND20,000 (US$0.82) VND25,000 ($1.03) per kilogram.

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