Water puppetry is an indispensable spiritual food for Vietnamese people. Many tourists coming to Hanoi want to see water puppetry once to see and feel the beauty of this long-standing traditional culture.
The tradition of water puppetry performances is rice fields because the people’s work is closely linked to the fields, with muddy hands and feet all year round. At that time, simple stages were built around flooded rice fields to entertain puppeteers. The time to organize the show is usually on days when farming work is finished, during spring or festivals.
Among the traditional folk art forms in Vietnam, water puppetry is considered the most unique. The stage here is more special because it is the water surface, and the actors are puppets made of wood. To create lively and attractive puppet shows, in addition to the artists, it is necessary to have a smooth combination of sound and lighting effects.
Today, the type of water puppetry in Hanoi has not changed much, only the environment and location are slightly different. At the modern theater in Hanoi, the performance is held in a lake for the puppets. The puppets are controlled by a number of puppeteers hiding behind bamboo blinds. With the help of large sticks, they can control the puppets while hiding them behind the screen.
With such unique features, watching water puppetry in Hanoi attracts many tourists to visit. In Hanoi, to watch water puppetry, you can go to the following places:
Vietnam Puppetry Theatre
Vietnam Puppetry Theatre – The largest puppetry art center in the country with the mission of preserving and developing traditional stage art. With a long history of formation and after 60 years of construction and growth, it is a gathering place for veteran researchers, authors, directors, painters, and famous puppetry performers in Vietnam.
This place to watch water puppetry in Hanoi is designed in the East Asian architectural style, creating a space imbued with pure Vietnamese culture. The arrangement and layout of the reliefs depicting the daily life and work of ancient Vietnamese people is very pleasing to the eye and fresh.
One of the favorite places to watch water puppetry in Hanoi with elaborate investment in modern equipment from sound, light to the surrounding area. The 2 stages in this theater; one for puppetry performances, and another for all other art forms (traditional water puppetry, water puppetry combined with contemporary art, …). Some typical performances of the theater include: fire-breathing dragons, duck catching, children, four-way dance, fairy dance, buffalo fighting, yachting, fishing, …
Next to this place is a museum displaying the origin of Vietnamese Puppetry (especially Water Puppetry) and some puppetry artifacts from different regions across the country. People coming here, in addition to watching the performance, should not forget to visit the souvenir shops, entertainment areas, … to visit and buy souvenirs.
- Address: 361 Truong Chinh, Khuong Trung, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi City.
- Phone: +84 243 5682 386
Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
Over the years, the name Thang Long Puppetry Theatre has become a famous specialty. In particular, this place has become a destination chosen by many foreign tourists when coming to Vietnam.
Constantly striving to bring the art of water puppetry to the world as well as introduce a unique art theater. Not only performing for domestic audiences, the theater also regularly organizes international tours and participates in many famous art festivals around the world.
At a lake as a stage, puppeteers immerse themselves in it and stand behind the curtain to skillfully control the puppets. They can use underwater bars or a very special string system. Combined with a live band, the lighting effects create impressive performances. Surely watching puppetry here is one of the things to do in Hanoi that you cannot miss.
- Address: No. 57b Dinh Tien Hoang, Ly Thai To, Hanoi City.
- Time: From Monday to Saturday: 13:45, 15:00, 16:10, 17:20, 18:30, 20:00, 21:15. On Sundays only: 09:30, 13:45, 15:00, 16:10, 17:20, 18:30, 20:00, 21:15.
You need to pick up your tickets at the supplier’s office at least 30 minutes before the show starts.
Canh Dieu Water Puppet Theater
Located on the small and pretty Ngoc Ha street, near many famous tourist attractions in Hanoi such as: Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam, … Canh Dieu Water Puppet Theater is a familiar place to enjoy Hanoi puppetry. Here, visitors can immerse themselves in the rustic space of the Northern countryside while watching skillful puppeteers perform.
Theater information:
- Address: 19B Ngoc Ha, Ba Dinh, Hanoi.
- Show schedule: 9:00, 10:10, 11:15, 15:30, 16:45, 18:00, 19:30.
- Ticket price: 100,000 VND/adult. 70,000 VND/child.
Bong Sen Water Puppet Theatre
Belonging to the Vietnam Contemporary Theatre, in operation since 2008, this is another prominent place for you to watch special puppet shows in Hanoi. The theatre’s puppet shows are performed by experienced artisans and musicians from traditional craft villages.
Each play brings a new breath that leaves many impressions, both traditional and contemporary styles, which are appreciated by many tourists.
Theatre information:
- Address: 16 Le Thai To, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
- Show schedule: 14:45, 16:00, 17:15, 18:30.
- Ticket price: 80,000 VND/standard ticket – 100,000 VND/VIP ticket.
If you have the opportunity to travel to Hanoi, you should spend a little time to enjoy a water puppet show. With ticket prices ranging from 60,000 VND to 150,000 VND, it is truly worth it to enjoy the traditional beauty that is still preserved today in the middle of Hanoi./.
Source: collected by An
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