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Hanoi’s Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is one of the most popular attractions in the capital. You may even witness fireworks emerge to dance on the water, to simulate a naval battle. Visitors have the chance to experience this intangible heritage at sophisticated performances in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Puppets of dragons, ducks, lions, unicorns, phoenixes, and frogs spout smoke, throw balls and dance on the watery stage as if almost by magic. Puppeteers stand waist-deep in water, obscured by a split-bamboo screen, as they manipulate the hand-painted wooden puppets attached to the end of long poles concealed beneath the water. This traditional performance is mesmerizing to watch. These plays are imparted from generation to generation, preserving the cultural legacy of the Vietnamese. Most plays focus on the experiences of daily life in rural areas, while some share history and folklore of Vietnam.

Communal ponds in Vietnam’s towns and villages were perfect stages for these charming impromptu performances. Water puppetry as a folk art dates back to the 11th century. This tradition originated in the rice paddies of the northern Red River Delta, where performances still take place after the spring planting. The theatre is modern and usually shows 17 short sketches over a one-hour performance.Water puppetry is a delightfully quirky form of theatre in which the action takes place on a stage of water. It is also advisable to pay more to get closer to the action as the theatre seats a few hundred people and the puppets are not that big. Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hanoi with tickets selling out well in advance so it’s worth booking yours as soon as you arrive in town. The live music plays an integral part of the show with singers often shouting words of encouragement to the puppets. Most shows also feature the famous Legend of the Restored Sword of King Le which tells the tale of Hoan Kiem Lake and the giant tortoise. Today’s performances usually include a number of short sketches rather than one long story, taking the audience on a journey of ancient village life, agricultural harvests and dances of mythical creatures. The renowned Thang Long Water Puppet show is considered to be one of the cultural highlights of Northern Vietnam dating back to a tradition that first started in the Red River Delta. The puppets are controlled by no more than eight puppeteers hiding behind a bamboo screen. Shows at this modern theatre are performed in a pool of water as the stage for the puppets. Most of the shows recount Vietnamese folk tales and legends with topics including the celebration of the rice harvest depicted in a humorous fashion. There are also authentic Vietnamese operatic songs telling the story that is being acted out by the puppets. Performances are accompanied by a Vietnamese orchestra playing traditional music using drums, wooden bells, horns, bamboo flutes and cymbals. This tradition is unique to North Vietnam but has recently found fame on stages all over the world so it’s a rare treat to see the puppets perform in their original location at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Using large rods to support the puppets it appeared as if they were moving across the water with the puppeteers hidden behind a screen. Today, water puppetry is preserved by a few artists who are passionate about Vietnam’s traditional art, some of whom have decided to bring water. Chronologically speaking, it is considered an ancient art form which is on the brink of extinction. The tradition of water puppet theatre stems from a time when rice paddy fields were flooded and villagers would make entertainment by standing in the waist-deep water with the puppets performing over the water. Vietnam water puppetry originated in the northern Vietnam Delta during the Ly Dynasty (1010-1225).

The world-famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi has its roots in an art form that dates back to the 11th century.