If you are into exploring Vietnamese classical art, don’t forget to visit Thang Long Water Puppet Theater at least one time. It is a great chance for you to admire one of the most well-known worldwide water puppet shows. You will surely be impressed by the sparkling performances of puppets, together with a harmonious combination of light and sound.

In this blog, Vietnamtour.in will provide you with a comprehensive guide to Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. Let’s keep your eye on it until the end of our blog for detailed information about this destination!

Table of Contents

Brief History of Vietnamese Water Puppetry

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater was built to preserve the traditional art of Vietnamese water puppetry, a cultural heritage with wonderful educational and cultural values.

Vietnamese water puppetry first appeared during the Ly Dynasty, in the Red River Delta region (Song Hong) of Vietnam. During that time, water puppetry was normally performed on special occasions, with the main stages being village ponds or rice paddy fields. After that, this activity gained popularity in the Thang Long Imperial Court and became a valuable theatrical art form in Vietnam.

Today, Vietnamese water puppets are one of the unique national cultural symbols that foreign visitors can’t miss when coming to Vietnam. Let’s visit Thang Long Water Puppet Theater to get a deeper understanding of Vietnamese folk artistry.

Location

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is situated at 57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District, right in the heart of Hanoi, Vietnam’s city center.

How to get there

Walking: In the Hanoi Old Quarter, travelers easily walk along the ancient streets to arrive at the theater. If you don’t know how to get there exactly, let’s ask locals because it’s really easy.
Bus: If you stay far away from the city center, you can take buses to go to Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. You need to get off at the Hoan Kiem Lake bus stop and then easily walk to the theater. Hence, take bus routes passing by here, such as bus 42, 04, 146, or 18.
Car or Motorbike: You can drive your rented motorbike or book taxi services to get to the final destination. (Remember to follow Google Maps)

Ticket fee

The ticket price is divided into 3 main classes:

VIP tickets: 8 USD/person
Economy tickets: 6 USD/person
Common tickets: 4 USD/person

Visitors can book the water puppet show tickets on the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater site. Or else, you can get tickets through any reputable ticketing website providing show bookings at the theater. If you join tours including this destination, don’t worry, the tour guide will notify you of advanced timetables to help you have a good preparation.

Note: The ticker prices may fluctuate over time, thus, don’t forget to visit the theater’s official website to check.

Tel: (+84) 24 38249494
Website: https://thanglongwaterpuppet.com/

Show Schedule

Below is a detailed Thang Long water puppet show schedule, with each show lasting around 50 minutes. In particular:

Mondays to Saturdays: 1:45 PM, 3:00 PM, 4:10 PM, 5:20 PM, 6:30 PM, 8:00 PM, 9:15 PM
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

Useful tips

Remember to book tickets in advance so as not to wait for long, especially on weekends.
Select seating closer to the water stage to watch clearly (normally VIP tickets)
Walk from Hanoi Old Quarter to save time moving

What to expect in a Thang Long Water Puppet Theater’s Show

Visiting Thang Long Water Puppet Theater, you will witness the best water puppet shows in Hanoi. Below are some of what to expect during your journey here:

Vietnamese water puppetry

All of the shows are performed by skilled puppeteers, who stand behind a bamboo screen and control puppets. You will have a chance to see Vietnamese water puppets – made of wood and beautifully crafted with distinctive patterns. Thus, visitors can see mythical items, animals, or even human figures in reality.

Immersive stories

While enjoying the shows, travelers will listen to plenty of Vietnamese folktales, as well as historical stories. It is great for you to discover unique cultural activities in Vietnam, such as “Lua Nuoc”, fishing, or buffalo riding. Moreover, you can immerse yourself in the world of tales, dragons, “Thang Giong” and martial arts.

Colorful performances

Water puppet shows are set up with a variety of visual effects, like fireworks, water splashes, smoke, or laser lighting. All of these factors bring a strong impression of a vibrant and colorful performance.

Audience participation

Sometimes, artists will invite audiences to come to the stage and experience controlling the puppets in a water pool. At that time, tourists would be a bit confused due to not being familiar with this activity, however, it will be a worthy activity to try.

Other engaging activities

Vietnamese water puppetry, you also have an opportunity to enjoy some Vietnamese traditional musical performances from famous artists. They can use drums, bamboo flutes, or zither to create wonderful ensemble versions.

Wrapping Up

Our blog has just reviewed the main activities in Thang Long Water Puppet Theater, and some useful tips when visiting here. Don’t forget to book a ticket in advance to have perfect seating, together with a wonderful experience.

If you want to discover more about other activities in Hanoi, let’s refer to our things to do in Hanoi for interesting information. See you in Vietnam!

OTHER ATTRACTIONS IN HANOI