Established in 1956 with the assistance of Soviet circus artists, Việt Nam Circus Federation is Việt Nam’s national circus troupe. When it commenced operations it had just 10 performers and the most rudimentary equipment. It acquired a permanent home in 1991 with the opening of the National Circus Arena at Lenin Park and it now comprises five troupes with more than 200 circus performers. Two of its performers are People’s Artists (Nghệ sĩ Nhân dân, NSND) and another 20 Excellent Artists (Nghệ sĩ Ưu tú, NSƯT). During the 1960s its artists helped set up circus troupes in neighbouring Cambodia and Laos. During this period the Federation toured extensively in the former Soviet Union, the former Czechoslovakia, China, Laos, Mongolia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In recent years it has taken part in a series of international circus festivals in France, China and Cuba and has also toured to Japan, Canada, the USA, Spain and Switzerland. In 1997 the Federation hosted a one-off international circus festival in Hà Nội which drew participation from the USA, France, China, Mongolia, Laos and Việt Nam. One of South East Asia’s most modern circus companies, the Federation is renowned for its unique costumes, music and dance styles.