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You may have visited many famous cultural sites in Hanoi, but do you know the stories behind them? If you want to learn more about the fascinating history of Vietnam during the feudal era, “The Quintessence of Tonkin” is a performance that you must visit.
The Quintessence of Tonkin is an art show held in Quoc Oai Province, Hanoi. With its attention to detail in everything from the stage, the sound, and the lighting to the content, it depicts the story of the rich material and spiritual life of the Vietnamese people in the Red River Delta region. This would be an ideal activity for you and your family on a weekend in Hanoi.
This show would be a great choice for a weekend in Hanoi (Source: The Quintessence of Tonkin)
The show takes place at Baara Land Complex, Da Phuc Village, Sai Son Commune, Quoc Oai District, Hanoi. It is about 24 kilometers from the city center and will take about an hour to travel.
If you don’t have your own transportation, please note that they also provide shuttle bus service to pick up guests at 117 Tran Duy Hung Street from 4:30 PM to 5 PM. The ticket price is VND 100,000 for a round trip.
The show takes place every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday evening. The official performance starts at 7:30 PM but the complex welcomes guests at 5 PM. Visitors can arrive early to experience the culinary and traditional handicraft areas within the complex before the main show. The show typically runs for about 60 minutes and ends at 8:45 PM.
The show is invested with a magnificent sound and light system (Source: The Quintessence of Tonkin)
Note: Ticket price is 50% off for children under 1.3 meters (4.27 feet).
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The show is held completely on a large outdoor stage at the foot of Chua Thay Mountain. Taking inspiration from the traditional art of water puppetry, the stage itself is a pool of water. The shimmering reflections create a magical and theatrical ambiance. The combination of natural scenery and elaborate staging has created a magnificent and impressive performance space. This is the largest water show in Vietnam up until now.
This is the largest water show in Vietnam up until now (Source: The Quintessence of Tonkin)
The Quintessence of Tonkin is an impressive performance event series that achieved many records and major awards. Launched in 2017, in early June 2018, the show received the Gold Stevie Awards Asia - Pacific (an annual prestigious award for the business community) in the category: Innovation in communication, Visual communication and Visual entertainment.
It has been honored by the Vietnam Guinness Organization with certificates recognizing two records: "The show with the largest water surface stage in Vietnam" and "The show with the most actors who are farmers in Vietnam”. In addition, the show also received recognition from CNN television channel when it was voted as: a must-see show when visiting Hanoi.
Dancers in traditional Vietnamese clothes (Source: The Quintessence of Tonkin)
The Quintessence of Tonkin is not just an ordinary art performance but also a story about the history, culture, and people in the North of Vietnam. The play recreates traditional values, customs, and cultural beauty of the Northern countryside.
This show is inspired by the history of Thay Pagoda and the story of the Zen master Tu Dao Hanh, founder of the pagoda. The show takes the audience on a journey to discover the rich natural landscape and spiritual life of the Vietnamese people in the Red River Delta region. From poetry and music to Buddhism and folk beliefs, the show recreates the vibrant life of the old Vietnamese.
The Quintessence of Tonkin includes 6 parts: Poetry, Buddhist Realm, Nostalgia, Music and Painting, Peace and Joy, and Festivals. Each part showcases the culture, beliefs, and spirit of the Vietnamese people in labor, education, knowledge, village festivals, and artistic fields.
This part is inspired by the famous poem named “Thu Dieu” composed by Poet Nguyen Khuyen, as well as folk songs and lullabies of children in the North. The first scene shows us a peaceful and simple Vietnamese countryside setting. This takes us back to everyday life in the North of Vietnam, with familiar images of bamboo fences and the melody of the mother lullaby. Everything combined makes viewers feel so touched and nostalgic.
The first scene is about daily life in a peaceful and simple Vietnamese countryside (Source: The Quintessence of Tonkin)
The next scene focuses on the story of Zen master Tu Dao Hanh, the founder of Thay Pagoda. It is believed that before his religious practice, he was a traditional healer who was willing to treat the poor and unfortunate without asking for a return. He also taught people the art of water puppetry. The scene showcases the magical appearance of the Zen master with a shimmering lotus field, which will give you an unforgettable impression.
One of the most impressive moments is when Zen Master Tu Dao Hanh appears with magical light and golden lotuses blooming on the water (Source: The Quintessence of Tonkin)
The story continues with the scene of scholars carrying their belongings to the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. This place is where scholars from all over the country used to gather to take the imperial examination. The purpose of the exam is to find the most outstanding scholars and recruit them to the royal court.
The scholars are preparing for the exam (Source: The Quintessence of Tonkin)
A part of the old examination ground is recreated on the water surface stage, which is more than 4300 meters square. The tradition of studious learning, both literary and martial arts, is shown under the majestic music and modern lighting. This is a scene that helps the audience learn more about Vietnam’s education history.
The next part is inspired by the painting "To Nu Hang Trong" (4 paintings of 4 ladies). This scene has four girls wearing Ao Dai and performing different traditional Vietnamese musical instruments, including the flute, the pipa, the two-stringed fiddle, and the moon lute. This creates a wonderful image with the combination of unique music and graceful dances, which will definitely become an impressive moment for the audience.
Four women recreate the painting To Nu Hang Trong (Source: The Quintessence of Tonkin)
Transitioning from the lively interplay of sound and image, the next part will be more solemn and spiritual. Scene 5 showcases traditional beliefs through a spirit possession ritual, a ceremony originating from the worship of Mother Goddesses in Vietnamese folk culture and recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This section also recreates the daily life of farmers, including farming and lively water fetching.
The combination between light and water creates a fairy tale scene (Source: The Quintessence of Tonkin)
International visitors are introduced to the rich tapestry of Vietnamese culture through the show's narration, historical anecdotes, and cultural stories, all accessible with English subtitles. For Vietnamese audiences, it's an opportunity to reconnect with the country's past, exploring ancient stories and cultural practices that have faded in modern life.
The finale recreates the image of a rural festival with Quan Ho folk songs and Cheraw dance. The cheerful music and dance create a vibrant atmosphere to end the show. These activities are performed on stage in a realistic and lively way to make the audience feel like they are actually at a real festival.
The show ends with a vibrant and cheerful performance (Source: The Quintessence of Tonkin)
At the end of the show, the folk song “Oh, my friend, please don't go” echoes as a message that wants to keep visitors from leaving. It will surely be an unforgettable farewell moment for anyone.
In addition to the main art show, you can also experience the cuisine in the market space from 5 PM to 7:30 PM. This area is set up to simulate a Vietnamese countryside market in the old days with simple dishes such as pho, sticky rice, spring rolls, and traditional cakes. A wide range of food would definitely satisfy your tastebuds.
You can try many traditional Vietnamese foods from the market area (Source: The Quintessence of Tonkin)
You can also participate in traditional games here, among them, the Cheraw dance is the most popular. This is a traditional dance that originated in the Northwest region of Vietnam. On both sides, people will sit and clap bamboo sticks together to the rhythm of the music.
Cheraw dance is a traditional game for everyone (Source: The Quintessence of Tonkin)
Participants will have to dance to the music and avoid their feet from tripping over the bamboo sticks. This is an activity that is not only fun but also requires the flexibility of the feet. Try to participate once and you will be very impressed.
If you find yourself with a free weekend in Hanoi, check out The Quintessence of Tonkin show sounds like a good idea. It would certainly become a memorable experience of Vietnam's rich cultural heritage. Don’t hesitate to contact Asia King Travel today to plan your trip to Vietnam!
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