Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre at 57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street in Hoan Kiem District stands on the north-eastern corner of Hoan Kiem Lake and is the best-known venue for water puppetry in Hanoi, Vietnam. The art form dates back to the 11th century, when farmers in Red River Delta villages entertained each other in flooded rice fields. Today performances take place in a purpose-built theatre with a pool of waist-deep water in place of a stage. Wooden puppets, lacquered and brightly painted, are moved by puppeteers who stand hidden behind a bamboo screen and control them with long rods and strings under the water. A live folk orchestra plays traditional instruments such as the dan bau (monochord), bamboo flutes and drums, while singers narrate in Vietnamese in the cheo and other folk styles. Short scenes depict village life, including rice farming, fishing, dragons dancing, phoenixes, and the legend of the returned sword at Hoan Kiem Lake. Water splashes, firecrackers and smoke add to the effect. The show lasts about 50 minutes, with no intermission. Seats are graded by class, with the front rows close to the water and occasionally splashed, and tickets cost about 100,000 to 200,000 VND. English programmes or headsets help visitors follow the stories. Daily shows run at about 3:00PM, 4:10PM, 5:20PM, 6:30PM and 8:00PM, though the schedule should be verified on the website. Evening shows in high season sell out, so booking ahead is sensible, particularly for the 5:20PM and 6:30PM slots. The show suits families and first-time visitors, and combining it with a lakeside walk makes an easy afternoon. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early to collect tickets and choose seats.