Water Puppet Show (Múa rối nước) in Hanoi, Vietnam
Water puppetry is an ancient art that dates back 1000 years when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam.
Thang Long Water Puppet, which is located very conveniently near Hoan Kiem Lake, offers 2 to 3 shows daily after 5 pm. Each show lasts about 45 minutes. Tickets are from only 100,000 VND or $4 USD. You can purchase the audio translation which explained the show.
You will be amazed by the wonderful music and singing by the performers. It has action, comedy, drama, and mystery. The show is very entertaining and all the acts were well explained. The puppets are made out of wood and then lacquered. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool. The puppeteers who are normally hidden behind a screen control the puppets via large bamboo rods under the water. In the early days, water puppetry showed the daily life of villagers such as fishing, farming, romance, and children playing. Now, the topics of the plays are also picked from ancient myths, legends, and historic stages as well.