Water puppet show has been being existed for more than 1000 years and it is really a cultural value of Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general. Enjoying water puppet show in Hanoi is one of the most meaningful and wonderful things that you should not miss when visiting Hanoi.
The puppets are made of wood and then lacquered by craftsmen. On the performance, the puppets are controlled by the puppeteers to mover over the water. The puppets are made with different shapes and role depending to suit the play. The traditional contents of water puppet performance include daily life of Vietnamese farmers (cultivating, tending buffalo, catching fishes), communal entertainment (swimming contest, dragon dancing), historical legends. These contents are mainly performed in the water puppet show and it reflects the daily life of Vietnamese farmers and history of Vietnam.
Taking the chance to watch and admire the most special art, you will see the puppets moving on the water and each puppet plays a different role in the play. They are controlled to make actions and postures by the puppeteers who are hidden behind the screen. Come and enjoy it to understand and feel more about the culture, history and daily of Vietnamese.
Hanoi is the most suitable and ideal place to enjoy water puppet show as there is the famous water puppet theatre in Hanoi that you can find easily that is Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre.
Beside enjoying delicious street food, wandering around Hanoi Old Quarter and doing other activities in Hanoi, watching a water puppet show is a wonderful thing that you should do in Hanoi. Let’s give yourself a chance to enjoy the special and traditional performance art.