en
Tiếng Việt 
中文 (中国) 
한국어 
28/12/2022
1901 views
Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is considered the place that brings the best water puppet show in Hanoi (Source: Collected)
There is no better place to enjoy Vietnamese traditional water puppetry than Thang Long Water Theater in Hanoi. As a popular tourist spot, it is open every day and provides many unique performances telling historical stories through puppets on water. During your Hanoi travel journey, do not forget to come and explore Thang Long Water Theater to see many cultural values that it holds!
1. Things to know about the history of Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
Located at 57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hang Bac Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is a well-liked destination for both local and foreign visitors who wish to enjoy water puppet performances and appreciate the beauty of this distinctive Vietnam traditional art form.
This theater in Hanoi is listed among the oldest buildings in Vietnam capital city. It was inaugurated on October 10th, 1969. It is one of the few places that still preserves and performs water puppetry – one of Vietnam’s most notable cultural traditions.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theater has a long history with many ups and downs (Source: Collected)
With only 9 members at first, Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre was first known as Kim Dong Artistic Union. In 1975, it was renamed to Hanoi Puppet Union. The theater was given its current name in 1993, when it finally relocated to Dinh Tien Hoang Street.
Despite being open for a very long period, the theater did not have a water stage for water puppet performances until 1990. Since then, it has produced a great deal of fantastic shows and participated in various international events.
Many performances at Thang Long Water Puppet Theater are loved by both domestic and international audiences (Source: Collected)
2. The outstanding features of Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is situated in the heart of Hanoi. Travelers often combine sightseeing at Hoan Kiem Lake with enjoying water puppet shows to have a complete tour in Hanoi.
This is also the only theater in Vietnam that holds the record “The only theater in Asia to perform water puppetry 365 days/year”. So far, it has introduced this traditional art form to more than 40 countries, leaving a lasting impression on audiences everywhere, from Asia to Europe, America, and Australia. Therefore, it plays an important role in promoting the traditional Vietnamese water puppetry to the world.
Here, you can also enjoy the magical sounds produced by traditional Vietnamese instruments, such as Erhu, Flute, Zither, Monochord, etc. Enjoying Cheo singing is also a highlight of your trip to the theater.
3. The typical water puppet shows in Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
In Vietnam, water puppetry is seen as a representation of intangible culture. However, as technology advances, younger generations are becoming less interested in such arts. Thang Long Water Puppet Theater sees it as their duty to protect and develop this distinctive form of art in order to prevent Vietnamese traditions from being swept away by the flow of contemporary norms.
In order to make an artistic breakthrough, the theater has recently recreated 17 old folk tales through water puppetry. It aims to bring the audience new performances that are more imaginative, lovely, and amazing while still maintaining the traditional characteristics of water puppetry.
Hanoi water puppet shows at Thang Long Water Puppet Theater attract many visitors (Source: Collected)
Some typical water puppet shows are:
- Teu: This is the most notable character in water puppetry. Teu is a jester who makes sharp observations about social and political reality, particularly about corruption. He has the appearance of a happy young boy who frequently only wears a plain loincloth, occasionally a plain open vest.
- Dragon dance and Phoenix dance: Vietnamese dragons play a significant role in the spiritual culture of the country. Meanwhile, Vietnamese phoenixes represent Vietnamese folk beliefs and marital loyalty.
- Herdboy playing flute and riding water buffalo: This show depicts the peaceful life of the Vietnamese countryside. In particular, the sound of the flute reminds Vietnamese people of their love for the country.
- Agriculture: All the daily work of Vietnamese farmers, such as plowing, watering, harvesting, etc., are demonstrated in this show. The image of hardworking farmers on the field shows the spirit of Vietnamese farmers.
- Vinh Quy Bai To: This show encourages people to be eager to learn, to respect talented people, and to understand that education is essential.
Besides, there are many other distinctive shows that you can find at the theater, namely Nhi Dong Hy Thuy, Le Loi Yacht, Boat racing, Lion dance, Dance of the four supernatural creatures, etc. All of them will surely bring you a great deal of amazing experiences on your trip to Hanoi.
Each water puppet show Vietnam has its own traditional and cultural values (Source: Collected)
4. Thang Long Water Puppet Theater tickets and show times
There are 3 types of Thang Long Water Puppet Theater tickets with different prices, including:
- Common ticket: 100,000 VND
- Economy ticket: 150,000 VND
- VIP ticket: 200,000 VND
Every day, Hanoi water puppet shows are performed at Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. Schedules are updated every week on the official website of the theater. Here, you can fully immerse yourself in captivating performances which last 50 minutes each.
Below are Hanoi water puppet show times:
- From Mondays to Saturdays: 1:45 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:10 pm, 5:20 pm, 6:30 pm, 8:00 pm, 9:15 pm
- On Sundays: 9:30 am, 1:45 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:10 pm, 5:20 pm, 6:30 pm, 8:00 pm, 9:15 pm
To book tickets, you can contact via:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (+84) 91 3511063 – (+84) 37 5827429
You can choose from 3 types of tickets to enjoy the shows (Source: Collected)
To enrich your trip to Hanoi, besides the theater, you should visit other famous places, such as Hanoi Old Quarter, Dong Xuan Market, Presidential Palace, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi Train Street, etc. In addition, it will be a big waste if you miss out on VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium Times City.
Vinpearl Aquarium is about 4,000 square meters in size, making it one of the largest aquariums in Vietnam. It has 30,000 different aquatic specimens from different continents, giving you a great chance to explore the marine world. Meanwhile, VinKE offers a play-and-learn environment where kids can learn about their career options. It will undoubtedly provide you and your loved ones with a variety of fun activities.
VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium are two great places for your trip in Hanoi
Book tickets of VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium here
Along with Hanoi, there are several must-see destinations in Vietnam, such as Hoi An, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc. As the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam, they will astonish you with a ton of wonderful experiences.
When you visit these places, treat yourself to a luxurious stay at Vinpearl, one of the best hotel brands in Vietnam with all-inclusive services and prime locations. VinWonders, an excellent entertainment system with breathtaking landscape and a wide range of appealing activities, also deserves to be included on your bucket list.
Come to VinWonders to unwind on the trip to many touristy destinations in Vietnam
>>> Book rooms in Vinpearl Phu Quoc, Vinpearl Nha Trang, Vinpearl Nam Hoi An in advance!
>>> Remember to book tickets of VinWonders Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Nam Hoi An to enjoy fantastic experiences!
It can be said that Thang Long Water Puppet Theater provides a look into the culture of Vietnam, especially the Northern region. Book a seat for a water puppet show if you are eager to see the splendor of this art form. What it offers will undoubtedly amaze you. Also, plan your Vietnam trip with countless exciting experiences by book tickets of VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium, VinWonders Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Nam Hoi An!
