Thang Long Water Puppet Theater Place guide

In the city of Hanoi some thousand years ago, a group of entertainers took traditional storytelling to a whole new level. The performance, dating as far back as the 11th century, made its home in the north east of Hoan Kiem Lake – where you can find the city’s Water Puppet Theater. This traditional art form has become one of the country’s most distinguished forms of entertainment and continues to impress visitors night after night. 

One of the signs of a great storyteller is manner of delivery, and characters of the Vietnamese Water Puppet Theater excel at this. Set in a pool of water 4 meters wide and waist deep, eight puppeteers strategically place themselves behind a bamboo screen. With a long bamboo pole, they give life to the lacquered wooden puppets to entertain the audience. 

Like a child’s pop-up book, characters of different shapes, sizes, and species emerge from the depths of the pool and greet their guests with varying motions or a synchronized dance. Each performance is accompanied by a musical troupe, creating a multi-sensory experience.

Water puppet shows recount typical stories most Vietnamese children hear growing up. From day-to-day activities of farmers out in the fields, to mystifying tales of the beloved legends and folklore, travelers, both young and old, will definitely fall in love with this fantastic art form. 

Take note that if you are planning to buy tickets, you must purchase them beforehand, as these shows do so well that they are often sold out during high season.

Operating hours and ticket prices: The Water Puppet Theater is open daily, with performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Tickets cost around VND60,000-100,000, the front rows commanding higher prices.

If you want to combine a city tour with a water puppet show viewing, you can join this tour, which takes care of transportation, entrance and ticket fees, lunch, and a local tour guide. Definitely one of the top Hanoi things to see!