Many visitors traveling to Hanoi want to see the water puppet show once.
This kind of art shows the beauty of the long-standing traditional culture of Vietnam.
The guests can preview the Hanoi water puppet performance schedule which we introduce below to arrange a suitable time to enjoy it.
Introduction of water puppet show in Hanoi
Along with Tuong (traditional opera) and Cheo, water puppetry is considered an art with a high position in the national theater of Vietnam.
The water puppet show was created through the exploration and creativity of our fathers and it is associated with the cultivation of wet rice in the Northern Delta.
The art of water puppetry is a “spiritual dish” that brings people back to their roots, where they started from the simple things.
That is also the reason that domestic and foreign tourists love to buy tickets to see the water puppet shows in Thang Long, Hanoi.
One thing that few tourists know is that puppets appear in many countries in the world but water puppetry is only found in Vietnam.
Started since the Ly dynasty, water puppetry has had many different characteristics from the others such as using the water surface as a stage, the water puppet chamber structured like the old communal roof in rural Vietnam, the material to make puppets made of fig wood to float easily on the water.
In particular, the success or failure of the show depends strongly on the skills of the puppeteers.
And, music also contributes to the water puppet show to attract more audiences. The ethnic instruments that visitors can see are rice drums, mugs, snails, horns.
It is interesting to see a water puppet show in Hanoi when colorful puppets appear and move flexibly on the water surface, combined with unique sounds that make the guests cannot take their eyes off.
The common contents of the shows are daily activities of Vietnamese people such as dragon dance, buffalo fighting, wrestling, or excerpts from fairy tales of Thach Sanh, Tam Cam, …
Water puppet theatres in Hanoi
Here are three water puppet theatres in Hanoi to see this typical traditional art. However, the first two theatres are popular for tourists, the third one is usually performed when booking in advance.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theater (the most well-know)
- Address: 57B Dinh Tien Hoang, Hang Bac, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi 100000
- Tel: 024 38249494 – 024 38255450
- Email: thanglong.wpt@fpt.vn
- Website: http://thanglongwaterpuppet.com
Lotus Water Puppet
- Address: 16 Le Thai To, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Email: muaroinuocbongsen@gmail.com
- Hotline: 0972 03 04 20 – 024 3938 1173
- Website: bongsenwaterpuppet.com
Vietnam Puzzle House
- Address: 361 Trường Chinh, Thanh Xuân, Hà Nội
- Phone: (024) 3853.4545 – (024) 3853.1333
- Website: nhahatmuaroivietnam.vn or vietnampupetry.com
Schedule to watch water puppet shows in Hanoi, Vietnam
The time to have a performance at each theatre is different. We introduce you to the schedule here as a reference.
Schedule of Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Please note: Show 1 can be closed because of not enough guests to join. So, it is good to arrange your time for the other shows.
| Date | Show 1 | Show 2 | Show 3 | Show 4 | Show 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 15:00 | 16:10 | 17:20 | 18:30 | 20:00 |
| Tuesday | 15:00 | 16:10 | 17:20 | 18:30 | 20:00 |
| Wednesday | 15:00 | 16:10 | 17:20 | 18:30 | 20:00 |
| Thursday | 15:00 | 16:10 | 17:20 | 18:30 | 20:00 |
| Friday | 15:00 | 16:10 | 17:20 | 18:30 | 20:00 |
| Saturday | 15:00 | 16:10 | 17:20 | 18:30 | 20:00 |
| Sunday | 15:00 | 16:10 | 17:20 | 18:30 | 20:00 |
Schedule of Lotus Puppet Theatre
| Date | Show 1 | Show 2 | Show 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 4:00pm-4:50pm | 5:15 pm – 6:05pm | 6:30pm – 7:20pm |
| Tuesday | 4:00pm-4:50pm | 5:15 pm – 6:05pm | 6:30pm – 7:20pm |
| Wednesday | 4:00pm-4:50pm | 5:15 pm – 6:05pm | |
| Thursday | 4:00pm-4:50pm | 5:15 pm – 6:05pm | 6:30pm – 7:20pm |
| Friday | 4:00pm-4:50pm | 5:15 pm – 6:05pm | 6:30pm – 7:20pm |
| Saturday | 4:00pm-4:50pm | 5:15 pm – 6:05pm | 6:30pm – 7:20pm |
| Sunday | 4:00pm-4:50pm | 5:15 pm – 6:05pm | 6:30pm – 7:20pm |
Ticket price to see water puppet show in Hanoi
You can buy tickets directly at ticket staff at the theatre. But, book tickets as early as possible to avoid being full of seats, and running out of good places.
The first three lines of seats are good to see the water puppet performances.
Especially, you can buy tickets online at Lang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi.
But, please note that online booking time is often from 8:00am – 2:30pm.
Price of a show at Thang Long Water Puppet with range:
- The first groups of seats: 100,000VND,
- The second groups of seats: 150,000VND, and
- The third groups of seats: 200,000VND
Price of a show at Lotus Water Puppet Theatre: 100,000VND
Water Puppet Shows in Hanoi gives you the typical feelings and become interesting experiences when you travel to Hanoi Capital, Vietnam.
The art reflects the traditional life and beauty of the Vietnamese countryside.
So, you should save an hour after visiting attractions to relax and enjoy this kind of performance to enrich your holidays Vietnam.