Water Puppet Show in Hanoi: A Traditional Vietnamese Art You Can’t Miss

The Hanoi Water Puppet Show is one of Vietnam’s most fascinating cultural experiences, blending traditional folk storytelling with vibrant performances on water. Originating in the Red River Delta, this unique art form has captivated audiences for centuries. For travelers in Hanoi, watching a water puppet performance is more than entertainment-it’s a window into Vietnamese heritage, legends, and daily life.

1. What Is the Hanoi Water Puppet Show?

Water puppetry (múa rối nước) is a traditional Vietnamese art form that dates back to the 11th century. Typical of the rice cultivation civilization, it is recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.

Performances take place on a pool of water, where brightly painted wooden puppets are skillfully controlled by hidden puppeteers standing behind a screen. Accompanied by live folk music and traditional instruments, each show vividly portrays scenes of village life, historical legends, and cultural celebrations.

What makes the Hanoi Water Puppet Show truly special is how puppets are uniquely utilized to tell Vietnamese folk tales in a colorful and lively way.

During your Hanoi trip, besides tasting delicious Vietnamese dishes and exploring famous attractions, watching a water puppet performance should be at the top of your bucket list. This fascinating experience allows you to gain deeper insight into Vietnamese culture through traditional legends and historical stories.

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2. History of Hanoi water puppet shows

Around 1,000 years ago, during the time of peace and prosperity when people could freely organize and enjoy their cultural celebrations and traditions, Hanoi water puppet shows were first introduced to the public. Reflecting the rice cultivation civilization, a typical water puppet show in the past used to be performed at rice paddy fields, with performers standing in knee-deep water and controlling puppets on the water's surface. This unique form of traditional art was gradually spread throughout the S-shaped country and became an indispensable part of Vietnamese traditional festivals.

3. Prominent features of Hanoi water puppet shows

The colorful puppets are considered the essence of Hanoi water puppet performances. Crafted mainly from lightweight fig wood, each puppet takes about a week for artisans to carve and paint. Thanks to their design, the puppets float gracefully on the water, creating the illusion of life.

Typical themes revolve around the daily life of Vietnamese farmers-such as rice cultivation, fishing, or catching ducks-as well as communal entertainment like swimming contests and dragon dances. Historical legends and folk tales, passed down for generations, also form an important part of the repertoire.

Here are some highlights you’ll experience during a show:

Legendary Tales: Stories of King Lê, dragon myths, and Vietnamese folklore brought vividly to life.

Music & Storytelling: Traditional instruments, narration, and singing guide the puppets’ movements and emotions.

Unique Performance Style: Colorful puppets dance, fish, or battle mythical creatures, seemingly floating effortlessly on water.

Cultural Connection: Each scene offers a window into Vietnamese traditions, rituals, and community spirit.

4. Best Places to Watch Water Puppet Shows in Hanoi

4.1 Thang Long Water Puppet Theater: Offering the best water puppet shows in Hanoi

Address: No. 57B, Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Show times: 3.00 pm; 4.10 pm; 5.20 pm; 6.30 pm; and 8.00 pm daily
Ticket fee: 100,000 - 200,000 VND/person

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater, located near Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of Hanoi, is the most famous place to enjoy water puppet shows in Vietnam. It was established in 1969, originally named Hanoi Kim Dong Art Troupe. The theater was honored by Asia Record Center to be "the only theater in Asia performing water puppetry continuously 365 days a year". Thang Long puppetry troupe not only serves domestic audiences but also takes part in numerous international art festivals held in Paris, New York, Barcelona, Helsinki, Sydney, Seoul, Bangkok, etc. Water puppet shows performed at Thang Long Water Puppet Theater will impress every audience with a typical artistic quality that harmoniously combines tradition and modernity.

4.2 Vietnam National Puppetry Theatre

Address: No. 361, Truong Chinh Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi
Show times: no fixed schedules
Ticket fee: 120,000 - 400,000 VND/person

Vietnam National Puppet Theater is the largest puppetry art center in the country, with the aim of preserving and developing this traditional theatrical art. With over 60 years of development, Vietnam National Puppet Theater has always provided Vietnamese and international tourists with outstanding puppet and water puppet shows. Some famous shows at this theater are “Ugly Duck”, “Children's Moon”, “Rhythm of the Homeland”, “Spirit of Thang Long”, and “Wimpy Witch”.

4.3 Canh Dieu Water Puppet Theater

Address: No. 19B, Ngoc Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
Show times: 9.00 am; 10.10 am; 11.15 am; 3.30 pm; 4.45 pm, 6.00 pm; 7.30 pm
Ticket fee: 70,000 VND for children and 100,000 VND for adults

Canh Dieu Water Puppet Theater attracts a large number of audiences, since it is considered as one of the most impressive water puppet theaters imbued with Northern folklore. Each performance lasts 50 minutes, which is enough for international tourists to experience the water puppetry culture of Vietnam.

4.4 Lotus Water Puppet Theater

Address: No. 79, Hang Trong Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Show times: 5.15 pm; 6.30 pm (Monday - Thursday); 4.00 pm; 5.15 pm (Friday); 4.00 pm; 5.15 pm; 6.30 pm (Saturday - Sunday)
Ticket fee: 70,000 - 150,000 VND/person

Lotus Water Puppet Theater is an ancient building with French architecture, located in the center of Hanoi Old Quarter. Here, you will have an opportunity to enjoy numerous performances by many experienced artists and musicians from many traditional craft villages in the country.

The Hanoi Water Puppet Show is more than entertainment-it’s a cultural treasure that brings Vietnam’s history, folklore, and traditions to life. Whether you’re exploring Hanoi for a day or a week, don’t miss this one-of-a-kind performance that reflects the heart and soul of Vietnamese heritage.

Besides the above-mentioned theaters, you should also visit other tourist attractions in Hanoi such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi Old Quarter, Hanoi Opera House, Presidential Palace, Tran Quoc Pagoda, etc.

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