Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, Hanoi
Hanoi, Vietnam
About This Activity
Water puppetry (múa rối nước) originated in the Red River Delta over a millennium ago. Thang Long Theatre beside Hoan Kiem Lake stages 50-minute shows daily with elaborately carved wooden puppets acting out legends of the golden turtle, dragons, and farming life — puppeteers hidden waist-deep behind a bamboo curtain. A live orchestra of traditional instruments (đàn bầu, trống, đàn tranh) accompanies every scene. Standard tickets are 100,000 VND (~$4); VIP front-row seats (rows A–G) are 165,000 VND. Evening shows sell out — book at least a day ahead via the theatre website.
Seasonal note: Year-round; book ahead during peak months (Oct–Apr) when evening shows sell out quickly.
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