You haven’t been to Hanoi if you haven’t seen a water puppet show::Vietnam::Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

Maybe influenced by the musical *Miss Saigon*, or perhaps due to sharing a name with the former President, Ho Chi Minh City has stolen much of the spotlight, but it’s actually Hanoi, located in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam, that is the rightful capital of the nation.

Hanoi is Vietnam’s second-largest city, but due to its long period of communist rule, only the newly built straight roads leading out of the city and the oddly placed signs of Korean electronics dealers hint at a modern urban outline. Venturing back into the winding streets and alleys of the old town, whether it’s the exotic architecture from the French colonial period or temples and ancestral halls marked with characters resembling Chinese script, or the spectacular seascape of karst mountains like Halong Bay — all maintain a tranquility undisturbed by modernity.

And one must-visit spot for first-time travelers to Hanoi is the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, located right by Hoan Kiem Lake. It’s considered “one of the most impressive things in Hanoi” by many visitors. Indeed, this form of puppetry performed on water is unique in the world and is deeply rooted in traditional farming culture.

The origins of water puppetry remain uncertain, but the earliest records date back over 1,000 years. The Red River Delta near Hanoi has a geographical environment very similar to China’s Jiangnan water towns, filled with ponds, lakes, and marshes. With rice paddy farming as the main economic foundation, people’s lives were closely tied to water. In their leisure time during farming seasons, performers set up makeshift stages over ponds or flooded fields usually used for water storage, using the existing water surfaces as stages. And so, the lively tradition of water puppetry began, mainly aimed at giving thanks to the gods and praying for a good harvest in the coming year.

Today, water puppet performances require a special venue, typically a rectangular pool. Puppeteers stand waist-deep in the water, hidden behind a bamboo curtain, and skillfully manipulate the puppets from beneath the surface using long sticks about two meters in length and multiple silk threads. Watching the puppets tumble, run, jump, fish, and row boats with such ease often leaves audiences wondering just how the tricks work—but this unique art form is not easily passed on...Click to see the full Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre attraction introduction

★★★Extended Reading =The Lion King Debate - The Lion King::A One-of-a-Kind World-Class Performance ~ Vietnamese Water Puppet Show




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