Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater is the only venue for traditional water puppetry with regular performances throughout the year, totaling 365 days. Over the years, the theater has played a significant role in promoting the unique and culturally rich art form to both domestic and international tourists.
Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater is an ideal cultural destination that attracts a large number of visitors, both local and international, when traveling to Hanoi. Here, visitors can fully enjoy the pinnacle of water puppet performances – an art form unique to Vietnam.
1/ Overview of Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater
- Address: 57B Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater is located in the heart of Hanoi, right next to the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. This is where the unique traditional art form of water puppetry is showcased. While water puppetry exists in many countries, water puppetry is a cultural specialty unique to Vietnam.
2/ Ticket Prices for Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater Performances
Most Hanoi tour programs include an itinerary to enjoy the art of water puppetry at Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater. Currently, the theater has a capacity of 300 seats, and each performance lasts approximately 50 minutes.
Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater Detailed ticket prices for Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater in Hanoi (Photo: Compiled) Ticket prices at Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater are divided into 3 categories:
- Regular Ticket (seats furthest from the stage): 100,000 VND/person
- Standard Ticket (middle seats): 150,000 VND/person
- VIP Ticket (front row seats closest to the stage): 200,000 VND/person
*** Note: If visitors use cameras or take photos, there will be an additional surcharge. The fee is 20,000 VND/camera for cameras and 60,000 VND/camera for video cameras.
3/ History of Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater
Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater in Hanoi was established in October 1969 under the initial name of Kim Đồng Art Troupe. Its purpose was to provide water puppet performances for the children of the capital.
Over nearly half a century of formation and development, with various ups and downs, there were times when the theater seemed on the verge of closure due to the neglect of the water puppetry art form.
However, with the passion of artists and proper investment from the state, this art form gradually revived, and the theater developed both in terms of infrastructure and performance quality to serve both domestic and international tourists.
Initially, the theater only performed on a regular basis weekly or monthly, but with creative innovation incorporating national and traditional elements, tourists increasingly flocked to enjoy the performances. Consequently, the frequency of performances increased, occurring continuously from 5 to 7 times a day to meet the demands of visitors.
After more than 20 years of development, the theater has become a leading brand in the art of water puppetry in Vietnam. Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater has received numerous prestigious awards in both domestic and international water puppet festivals. Particularly, it has successfully left its mark on the unique traditional art of the homeland in over 40 countries, spanning Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
4/ 11 Representative Acts of Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater
As a year-round attraction for both domestic and international visitors, Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater in Hanoi has presented numerous water puppetry performances in various forms and genres. These works are closely linked to the country’s innovation and truly represent the cultural essence of Vietnam. Among them, the most prominent and appealing acts include the following 11 representative pieces, embodying the honored value of Vietnamese water puppetry art.
4.1. Mischievous Tễu
Tễu is a gentle and simple young farmer who narrates stories during village festivals. This character has the right to satirize any event or anyone in the story, allowing the audience to better understand the puppet characters.
4.2. Honoring the Ancestors
In ancient times, every 3-5 years, the royal court organized exams to select talents. Those who passed were honored by the royal court and returned to their villages to pay respects to their ancestors. This tradition was a special favor from the royal court to the talented individuals and a reminder to everyone to cultivate ethics and talents to help the people and the country.
4.3. Dragon and Phoenix Dance
Dragon and Phoenix are significant creatures in Vietnamese folklore. While the dragon symbolizes strength and grandeur, the phoenix represents gracefulness and agility. The dance of the Phoenix is often performed in pairs with a drum as the Phoenix and a bell as the Dragon. The harmonious performance of the Phoenix and Dragon also evokes thoughts of loyal and lasting love.
4.4. Dance of the Four Supernatural
Beings The dance of the Four Supernatural Beings symbolizes the sacred, guiding the audience toward lofty philosophical ideals.
The Four Supernatural Beings include the Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise, and Phoenix, which are sacred creatures bringing luck, prosperity, stability, and longevity. These four sacred animals are also commonly found in Vietnamese temples.
4.5. Children Playing in the Water
The act depicts mischievous boys playing together on the cool and refreshing waters of their hometown river. This is a delightful activity for children during hot summer days.
Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater Vibrant water puppet performance of Children Playing in the Water at the theater
4.6. Lion Dance
The Lion is one of the Four Supernatural Beings in Eastern beliefs. It is a mythical creature that brings blessings and good fortune to the people of Vietnam. The dance in this water puppet act is a prayer for prosperous, abundant, happy, and successful lives for Vietnamese farmers.
Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater The performance of the Lion Dance depicting wishes for prosperity and happiness
4.7. Fairy Dance
This puppet act is related to the theme of the Fairy Dragon – folkloric ancestors of the Vietnamese people. The dance is closely tied to the traditional story of the Vietnamese people, where Lac Long Quan marries Au Co and gives birth to a hundred eggs. The eggs hatch into a hundred children, with fifty following the mother to the mountains and fifty following the father to the sea. Later, Lac Long Quan passed the throne to his eldest son, Hung Vuong.
Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater The water puppet performance reflecting the aspirations of a peaceful and virtuous life for the Vietnamese people
4.8. Buffalo Herding and Flute Playing
Buffalo herding and flute playing are daily activities of children in the past. The dance depicts the peaceful life of the countryside through the melodious sound of a boy playing the flute in the rice fields. The flute sound also invokes memories of the homeland’s love for those living far away.
Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater with a lively performance
4.9. Le Loi Boating
The performance is closely associated with the legendary story of the Sword Lake and the national hero Le Loi. After more than 10 years of arduous resistance, in 1428, Le Loi achieved victory and ascended the throne, taking the reign name Le Thai To. During a boat trip on the lake, a golden turtle emerged, demanding the return of the ancient sacred sword that had been given to the king. The king returned the sword to Kim Qui, and from that moment, the names Ho Hoan Kiem and Sword Lake were born.
4.10. Boat Racing
Boat racing is one of the traditional festive activities of the Vietnamese people. The performance vividly recreates the dynamic, joyful atmosphere, and the competitive spirit of the teams during boat races.
Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater One of the outstanding water puppet acts at Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater Hanoi
4.11. Agriculture
This water puppet act portrays the daily activities of Vietnamese farmers, such as plowing, sowing rice, watering crops, and harvesting. Audiences witness images of diligent and hardworking farmers laboring enthusiastically in the fields.
