Water puppetry is an indispensable spiritual food for Vietnamese people. Many tourists coming to Hanoi want to see water puppetry to experience the beauty of this long-standing traditional culture.
The tradition of water puppetry performances is rooted in rice fields because 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 particularly special because it is the water’s surface, and the actors are wooden puppets. 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 takes place on a lake for the puppets. The puppets are controlled by a number of puppeteers hiding behind bamboo blinds. Using 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 60 years of construction and growth, it is a gathering place for veteran researchers, authors, directors, painters, and famous puppeteers 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 has made a significant investment in modern equipment, from sound and lighting 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 that showcases the origins of Vietnamese Puppetry (especially Water Puppetry) and 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 and entertainment areas to buy souvenirs.
- Address: 361 Truong Chinh, Khuong Dinh Ward, Hanoi.
- 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 for many foreign tourists visiting Vietnam.
Constantly striving to bring the art of water puppetry to the world, as well as introduce a unique art theater. Not only does the theater perform for domestic audiences, but it also regularly stages international tours and participates in many renowned art festivals worldwide.
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, Hoan Kiem Ward, Hanoi.
- 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, which has been operating since 2008, this is another prominent place 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, leaving lasting impressions in both traditional and contemporary styles, which are appreciated by many tourists.
Theatre information:
- Address: 16 Le Thai To, Hoan Kiem Ward, Hanoi.
- Show schedule: 14:45, 16:00, 17:15, 18:30.
- Ticket prices: 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 enjoying 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 still preserved today in the middle of Hanoi.
Source: collected by An
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