Water puppetry – A key to Vietnamese culture

Water puppetry is a delightfully quirky form of theatre in which the action takes place on a stage of water. The tradition was spawned in the rice paddies of the northern Red River Delta, where performances still take place after the spring planting. This form of folk art originating in the Red River Delta in the north of Vietnam, dating back in the 11th century. Many towns and villages in Vietnam had communal ponds that were perfect stages for these impromptu performances. The theme of the play concentrates on the daily life of rural people and folklores that are imparted from generation to generation, not mention stories of legends and national history.

Obscured by a split-bamboo screen, puppeteers standing waist-deep in water manipulate the wooden puppets which are attached to the end of long poles concealed beneath the surface. Dragons, ducks, lions, unicorns, phoenixes, and frogs spout smoke, throw balls and generally cavort on the watery stage – miraculously avoiding tangled poles.

In the more sophisticated productions staged for tourists in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city, even fireworks emerge to dance on the water, which itself takes on different characters, from calm and placid to seething and furious, during the naval battles.

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.

Contact Us to add this excursion to your Vietnam tour.