Thing to do
Hanoi Old Quarter
The historic trading district north of Hoan Kiem Lake, known as the 36 streets, where each street was once named after the goods sold there.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Hanoi's best-known water puppet theatre, founded in 1969, staging several 50-minute shows a day of a northern Vietnamese folk art with traditional music.
At a glance
- Type
- Water puppet theatre
- Area
- Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Official site
- nhahatmuaroithanglong.vn
Good to know
- 300 seats
- Audio guide in 7 languages
- Suitable for all ages
Why we recommend it
Water puppetry is one of northern Vietnam's oldest folk arts, said to date back to the 11th century, and the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is the most famous place to see it. The theatre was founded in October 1969 and stages five to seven performances every day in its 300-seat auditorium on Dinh Tien Hoang Street. A show lasts about 50 minutes, which is just long enough to enjoy the spectacle without testing younger children's patience.
The stage is a pool of water. Behind a screen at the back, puppeteers stand waist-deep and move lacquered wooden puppets with long bamboo poles hidden beneath the surface, so the figures appear to glide, swim and dance across the water on their own. The music features traditional instruments such as the fiddle, flute, zither and monochord, along with a rowing song from the northern folk tradition.
The programme is a sequence of short scenes drawn from village life and folklore. The repertoire includes Teu, a comic character who trades improvised jokes about people and events, and moves through a dragon and phoenix dance, a buffalo boy playing the flute, farmers planting and ploughing rice, a procession honouring a successful scholar returning home, children swimming, a boat race and a lion dance. One scene retells the legend of Le Loi and the returned sword of Hoan Kiem Lake, and the show closes with the dance of the four sacred animals: the dragon, unicorn, phoenix and tortoise.
The theatre lists English as a language for the show and offers an audio guide in seven languages, and the action is easy to follow even without understanding every word. Shows are suitable for all ages and are a good choice for families, for a rainy evening, or as a gentle introduction to Vietnamese culture on a first night. Book ahead through the theatre's website or by calling the hotline, particularly if you want a specific time or seats near the front, and arrive in good time.
The theatre is on Dinh Tien Hoang Street in Hoan Kiem district, which makes it easy to fit into an evening of walking and street food in the centre.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre FAQs
How long is a show?
About 50 minutes.
How many shows are there each day?
The theatre presents five to seven performances every day.
Do I need to book?
Booking ahead is wise; use the website or call +84 24 3824 9494.
Is there an audio guide?
Yes, an audio guide is available in seven languages.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, the theatre describes the show as suitable for all ages.
How big is the theatre?
It has 300 seats.
When was the theatre founded?
In October 1969.
What scenes are in the show?
Village and folklore scenes such as the buffalo flute, rice farming, a boat race, the legend of the returned sword and the dance of the four sacred animals.