Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Introduction
Where wooden puppets tell stories of Vietnamese countryside life on the water
Only about 200m from Hoan Kiem Lake, Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre at 57B Dinh Tien Hoang is an almost essential stop on Hanoi discovery itineraries for both domestic and international visitors. For about 50 minutes, on a water stage, wooden puppets lacquered and gilded re-enact Vietnamese village life, festivals, and legends to the sound of traditional music and cheo melodies.
The theatre was founded on October 10, 1969, originally as the Kim Dong Art Troupe, starting with 9 actors who graduated from the Hanoi School of Art. In 1975, the troupe was renamed the Hanoi Puppet Troupe. In 2001, it officially became Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Since its first international tour in 1981, the theatre has brought Vietnamese water puppetry to more than 40 countries. In 2013, it was awarded the First-Class Labor Order.
The theatre by Ho Guom, where water puppet art has been preserved for more than half a century. Photo: collected
