Location & History
Located at 57B, Dinh Tien Hoang street, nearby Hoan Kiem Lake, Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is a familiar address for both domestic tourists and foreign ones, who want to enjoy water puppet shows and discover the beauty of this unique Vietnam traditional art.
In 1969, the theater was established and since 1990; many water puppet shows have been performed by Thang Long theater artists. Every year, about 500 shows are offered to approximately 150,000 audiences. Moreover, the theater has brought water puppetry art to more than 40 foreign countries like Japan, France, America, Australia, Spain, etc. through performance tours, or international cultural exchange program or puppetry festivals.
Water Puppet Show
Traditional content of water puppet performance like daily life of Vietnamese farmers (cultivating, tending buffalo, catching fishes…), communal entertainment (swimming contest, dragon dancing…), or historical legends (Le Loi returns precious sword…), with modest performance way, have appealed audiences for centuries. However, the artists of Thang Long Water Puppet Theater want to renew the old puppet shows with the effect of light, music, and combination between people and puppets.
It sounds risky, but the theater has been successful since the beginning of the beginning and received favors and praises from audiences. To enjoy some typical water puppet performances, you can take a look at the video below.
Certainly, it will be much great if tourists can directly watch these shows in Thang Long Water Puppets Theater after enjoying a cup of coffee in the coffee lounge which is right in front of the theater and giving a nice view to Hoan Kiem Lake.
Show schedule
There are puppet show every day at 15:30 – 17:00 – 18:30 – 20:00 – 21:15 and Sunday at 9:30
Tickets
Ticket costs between 60.000 – 100.000 VND ($3-5) and can be purchased at doors or by contacting the theatre:
Tel: (84-04) 3 824 9494, 3 825 5450
Fax: (84-04) 3 824 5117
Email: thanglongwpt@fpt.vn
Website: www.thanglongwaterpuppet.org
Accommodation near here
Near Thang Long Water Puppets Theater, hotels are plentiful. Our suggestions:
Hanoi Sofitel Metropole rooms start at $315 per night.
Hanoi Hilton Opera rooms start at $169 per night.
Serenade Hotel rooms start at $88 per night.
