In particular, Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is the only traditional water puppetry venue with a regular performance schedule throughout 365 days. Over the years, the theater has contributed to promoting this unique spiritual “specialty” imbued with folk art to many tourists from all over the world. Let’s explore this unique place with Origin Vietnam.
1. Where is Thang Long Water Puppet Theater?
Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is located in the heart of Hanoi, right next to Hanoi\’s Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. At 57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hang Bac Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi City, Vietnam. With this special location, this theater has become a familiar cultural and tourist destination for all visitors.
2. How is Thang Long Water Puppet Theater unique?
This is where a unique national cultural art form – water puppetry takes place. Puppetry is found in most countries in the world, but water puppetry is the only cultural specialty found only in Vietnam.
In a show lasting less than 1 hour, you will enjoy a puppet performance on the water following an interesting story. The performances are all equipped with magical sounds from traditional musical instruments such as: erhu, zither, monochord, … Or Cheo music imbued with the folk culture of the Northern region of Vietnam.
Especially, Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is the first and only theater in Vietnam and Asia to hold the record for performing water puppetry continuously 365 days a year for the longest time. The theater performs up to 6 shows a day with more than 2,000 puppet shows every year, some of which have English subtitles for international visitors.
3. History of Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
In October 1969, the theater was built with the original name of Kim Dong Art Troupe, as a place to perform dry puppetry to serve children. By 1993, the place was officially named Thang Long Hanoi Puppet Theater.
At first, the theater only performed regularly on a weekly and monthly basis. However, it was the new creativity with the national and traditional elements as the core that attracted more and more visitors to enjoy. Since then, the frequency of performances has also increased, taking place continuously from 5 to 7 shifts per day to meet the needs of visitors.
After more than 50 years of formation and development, this place has brought to the audience countless plays with many different forms and genres. The theater always preserves good values, creates new things, and contributes to honoring the art of water puppetry, the quintessence of Vietnamese culture.
In particular, Thang Long Water Puppet Theater has successfully left its mark on Vietnam’s unique traditional art in over 40 countries, from Asia to Europe, America, …
4. How to get to Thang Long Water Puppet Theater?
With a location in the center of Hanoi city, you can easily get to the theater by many different means. Such as motorbike, car or bus:
- Bus: There are many bus routes to the theater, you can choose routes 04, 146, 18, 42, CNG03. It depends on the area you are in.
- Motorbike, car: If you have your own motorbike or car, you just need to follow the directions of Google maps to get to the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater.
5. Performance schedule and ticket prices of Vietnam Water Puppet Theater
5.1 Performance schedule:
- From Monday to Saturday, the performances are at: 13:45, 15:00, 16:10, 17:20, 18:30, 20:00 and 21:15.
- Sunday performances are at: 09:30, 13:45, 15:00, 16:10, 17:20, 18:30, 20:00 and 21:15.
5.2 Reference ticket prices:
- VIP ticket: 200,000 VND/person/turn.
- Regular ticket: 150,000 VND/person/turn.
- General ticket: 100,000 VND/person/turn.
6. Programs and performances of Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
A place that attracts tourists 365 days a year. Thang Long Water Puppet Theater in Hanoi has produced many water puppet shows with many different forms and genres. Especially, these works are closely associated with the country’s renovation process, worthy of becoming the quintessence of Vietnamese culture.
Among them, the most prominent and attractive to tourists are the typical performances that deeply honor the art of Vietnamese water puppetry below.
6.1 Teu Giao Tro
“Teu” is a gentle, simple young farmer and the narrator of village festivals. This is a character who has the right to make sarcastic remarks about any event or anyone appearing in the story. His presence has helped the audience understand more about the puppet characters.
6.2 Vinh Quy Bai To (people bringing glory to his homeland to thank his ancestors)
According to ancient customs, every 3-5 years the royal court held an examination to select talented people. Those who pass the exam will be given a royal gown and hat to return to their village to honor their ancestors. Thus, this custom is a special grace of the royal court for talented people. It is also a reminder for everyone to always cultivate morality and talent to help the people and the country.
6.3 Dragon and Phoenix Dance
Dragons and phoenixes are sacred animals that hold an important position in Vietnamese folklore. If the dragon is the embodiment of strength and majesty, the phoenix is graceful and agile. The Phoenix dance is often performed in pairs with the male being the Phoenix and the female being the Loan. The harmony of the Loan and Phuong couple also helps visitors think of the faithful and steadfast love between husband and wife.
6.4 Tu Linh Dance
Tu Linh mean: Four Benevolent Animals or Four Holy Beasts, including Long (the Dragon), Lân (the Qilin), Quy (the Turtle) and phụng/phượng (the Fenghuang)
“Tu Linh” dance is a dance that represents sacredness, guiding viewers to noble philosophies of life. Tu Linh includes Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, and Phoenix, which are sacred animals that bring luck, wealth, loyalty, and longevity. These four sacred animals also often appear in Vietnamese temples.
6.5 Children Playing in the Water
“Children playing in the water” is a water puppet show about mischievous boys playing together in the cool water of their hometown river. This is an interesting activity for children every hot summer.
6.6 Lion Dance
The lion is one of the four sacred animals in Eastern beliefs. This is a mascot that brings blessings and luck to the Vietnamese people. Moreover, the dance in this water puppet show is a wish for farmers to have a prosperous, abundant, happy and successful life in all things.
6.7 Fairy Dance
This is a dance related to the theme of Dragons and Fairies – considered by the people to be the ancestors of the Vietnamese people. The dance is associated with the traditional story of the Vietnamese people, that is, father Lac Long Quan married mother Au Co and gave birth to a bag of one hundred eggs.
Then, the bundle blossomed into 100 children, 50 of whom followed their mother to the forest and 50 of whom followed their father to the sea. Later, Lac Long Quan abdicated the throne to his eldest son, Hung Vuong.
6.8 Herding buffaloes and playing the flute
Herding buffaloes and playing the flute was a daily activity of boys in the past. The dance depicts the peaceful life of the countryside through the melodious sound of the bamboo flute of the shepherd boy. The sound of the flute also evokes the love of the homeland of the child far from home.
6.9 King Le Loi on a Boat Trip in Hoan Kiem Lake
It is associated with the legendary story of Hoan Kiem Lake and the national hero Le Loi. After more than 10 years of arduous resistance, in 1428, Le Loi won the victory and ascended the throne, taking the reign name Le Thai To.
While cruising on the lake to see the scenery, a golden turtle emerged to demand the return of the magic sword that had been given to the king. The king returned the magic sword to Kim Qui. From there, the names Hoan Kiem Lake and Sword Lake were born.
6.10 Boat Racing
Boat racing is one of the traditional recreational activities during Vietnamese festivals. The performance recreates the dynamic, joyful boat racing atmosphere and the fighting spirit of the teams and groups.
6.11 Agriculture
This is a water puppet show that depicts the daily work of Vietnamese farmers such as: plowing, planting rice, watering, harvesting, etc. The audience will see images of hard-working, diligent farmers working enthusiastically in the fields.
7. Enjoying Hanoi specialties when coming to Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
7.1 Pho Bat Dan – the most famous delicacy of the old quarter
- Address: 49 Bat Dan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
Speaking of delicious beef pho, gourmets cannot help but mention Pho Bat Dan. A bowl of Pho Bat Dan is typical of the original Hanoi beef pho, fragrant and fatty. It has created an attraction not only for Hanoians but also for diners from near and far.
7.2 Cha Ca La Vong – a famous delicacy in Hanoi’s old quarter
- Address: 14 Cha Ca, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
With over 130 years of age, Cha Ca La Vong is one of the delicious places to eat in the old quarter that you should visit once to enjoy. The sweet and fatty taste of La Vong fish cake mixed with the aroma of vegetables and shrimp paste makes many people crave it, wanting to eat it forever.
7.3 Bun Cha Hang Quat
- Address: Alley 74 Hang Quat, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
Bun Cha is one of the delicious dishes of Hanoi that always attracts tourists. The bun cha shop on Hang Quat street has been around for a long time and is almost always crowded. The highlight of the shop is the cha dish with its own flavor, soft pork belly, marinated with spices, onions, garlic and rich fish sauce. Then, people grill it on charcoal to create an attractive aroma.
7.4 Bun Oc Alley Dong Xuan Market
- Address: Dong Xuan Market Alley, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
Although the shop is small and located deep in the alley of Dong Xuan Market, this place is extremely crowded because of its delicious, well-rounded flavor. Each bowl of bun here costs from 30,000 – 35,000 VND and is open from 10am to 4pm.
7.5 Fried Sticky Rice Hang Dieu
- Address: 25 Hang Dieu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
Fried sticky rice is sold in many places in Hanoi, but the most popular is still the sticky rice stall on Hang Dieu Street. The sticky rice is scooped hot from the steamer, pressed into a flat square and then fried until golden brown on both sides. In spite of the sticky rice dish is crispy on the outside but still soft on the inside, served with braised eggs, ham, sausage, etc. It makes diners want to eat one but still want two more.
8. Accommodation when traveling to Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
When traveling here, you can refer to some of the following accommodations:
- Golden Moon Suite Hotel. Address: 12A Hang Manh, Hang Gai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
- Hanoi Nostalgia Hotel & Spa. Address: at 13-15 Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
- HANZ hanoi De Maison Grand Hotel. Address: 108 Hang Bong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
- Holiday Suites Hotel & Spa. Address: Nguyen Sieu, Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
- Silk Path Boutique Hanoi. Address: 21 Hang Khay Street, Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
- Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi – Mgallery. Address: 29 Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
- Apricot Hotel. Address: 136 Hang Trong Street, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
- Four Season Hotel. Address: 24 Le Thai To Street, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
9. Some other famous tourist attractions near Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
Located right on the central street, Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is very close to famous landmarks and long-standing cultural relics of the capital Hanoi. Such as:
- Ceramic Road: 700m away.
- Ba Kieu Temple: 1km away.
- Hoa Lo Prison: 1.6km away.
- Thang Long Imperial Citadel: 2.1km away.
- Hanoi Old Quarter: 100m away.
- Hanoi Flag Tower: 1.8km away.
- Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam: 2.2km away.
- Vietnam National Museum of History: 1.3km away.
Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre is a puppetry performance unit. It contributes to preserving and promoting the value of traditional puppetry art in Vietnam. When traveling to Hanoi, do not forget to visit and enjoy the cultural performances at this theater.
Contact Origin Vietnam – a professional tour operator. For more useful and detailed information about other beautiful destinations in Hanoi. We will also accompany you on your journey to the Hanoi tour to the Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre with the most interesting experiences.
