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If you find yourself wandering the vibrant streets of Hanoi, the Water Puppet Show is one cultural gem you should not miss. As a traditional art form deeply rooted in Vietnamese history, it provides a majestic and mesmerizing experience that the audience may witness the harmonious blend of puppetry, music, and storytelling to directly transport them into the heart of Vietnamese culture.
Discover the majestic art form in Vietnam. (Source: Unsplash)
Back to over a millennium, this kind of art was rooted in the Red River Delta from the rural life of rice farmers in Vietnam. Water puppetry, or “múa rối nước,” was usually performed by farmers on a special stage, which was a flooded paddy field.
As time flies, this traditional art has evolved, but its heart remains the same: telling stories of Vietnamese folklore, legends, and rural life through intricately crafted wooden puppets that dance on the surface of the water.
In addition, the water puppetry show nowadays is also performed on a water stage, but the puppeteers stand behind a split bamboo screen, in the waist-deep water, to control puppets through a system of bamboo rods hidden in the water.
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From its expression, the history of Vietnamese water puppetry reflects the roots of an agricultural country. Water puppetry was also a kind of entertainment for villagers during the rainy season when the fields were flooded.
The significance of water puppetry in Vietnam. (Source: Shutterstock)
Over the centuries, the art form has become a symbol of Vietnamese resilience and creativity, and watching a water puppet show in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City is like stepping back in time.
Beyond the enchanting puppetry, the shows are accompanied by live music played on traditional instruments like the bamboo flute, drums, and gongs. The narrators, often speaking in Vietnamese, bring life to the stories through song and dialogue, making the performances even more immersive.
Statistics record that in the rich history of Vietnamese water puppetry, about 30 traditional acts and hundreds of modern acts depicted folk stories showing the daily lives of farmers that usually include scenes showing the act of plowing, planting, herding ducks, wrestling, and boat racing, swimming, or performing the Thị Màu opera at the pagoda.
Figure out the majesty of water puppetry theater. (Source: Hanoi Times)
Nowadays, there are lots of themes in water puppet shows, from producing to fighting with modern stage effects and great planning.
A water puppet show requires quite a few artists, from the scriptwriter, puppet maker, and puppet manipulator to the singers performing the plays. Whatever the job is, everybody in this group has to be skillful, passionate, and a team player.
Also, the soundtrack cannot be lacking in water puppetry: singing, the rhythm of drums, the explosion of fireworks, the ringing of the wood bells, bamboo clappers, and flag-opening fireworks - all these contribute to making every puppetry show very lively and sensational.
The puppets are made of light wood; all carry their spirit and story. Water puppet music normally uses extracts from folk songs or water-song pieces from the Red River Delta. Moreover, water puppetry is peculiar to Vietnam.
The specialties of water puppet. (Source: Thang Long Water Puppet)
Behind the puppet stage would be the artisans who have 'waded through mud and water' to manipulate the puppets.
According to the previous generations, "In the past, the winter was much colder than now, so the puppet room had to tightly close against the wind. Performing artists would take a few sips of fish sauce or chew small pieces of raw ginger to swallow the juice and rub leftover pieces on the body. Now, most water puppet groups have rubber clothes and their methods to keep warm.”
A water puppet show is carefully orchestrated to provide an enchanting experience for its audience.
As the lights dim and soft music fills the space, a magical ambiance envelops the stage. The performance commences with graceful movements of water puppets, extending a joyful welcome and promising an exciting journey ahead.
The water puppet show delves into traditional tales and myths from Vietnamese culture. Audiences are transported along mysterious paths, encountering courageous heroes, mythical creatures, and everyday characters. Talented water puppets collaborate to recreate stunning landscapes and dramatic adventures.
The structure of the Water Puppet Show. (Source: Hanoi Times)
Entertainment is a vital component of the water puppet show. Laughter and boundless joy are elicited through comedy, diverse musical performances, and interactive games with the audience. This creates a lively and vibrant atmosphere.
The climax of the water puppet show arrives towards the end. Bright lights, resounding music, and a spectacular performance by the water puppets captivate the audience. This moment carries a profound message, marking the culmination of a wonderful journey.
The water puppet show doesn’t conclude with just one performance. It blends various elements to craft a unique experience. This may involve colorful lighting effects, enchanting smoke screens, and the use of 3D sound for an immersive feel. The show’s conclusion leaves a lasting impression, evoking emotions and unforgettable memories of this exceptional Vietnamese art.
Performances today take place in one of three venues:
The performance area was the water pavilion called "Thủy đình" - "thủy" means water and "đình" means communal house.
Other secrets of water puppetry. (Source: Travel Local)
On the backside of a screen of split bamboo, beautifully laminated to give a view of a temple front, not more than eight puppet masters manipulate the puppets by using long bamboo rods and a system of strings hidden underwater.
Accompanying the performances is a Vietnamese orchestra composed of traditional musical instruments featuring wood bells, drums, bamboo flutes, horns, and cymbals.
Ever wonder how these puppeteers behind the bamboo screen can manipulate their puppets and work with one another so smoothly?
Water puppet shows have mystified audiences for centuries through secrecy in performances. There is a unique dialect and codeword that the puppeteers use to keep prying ears away from information on specific techniques.
An understanding of how the puppeteers successfully control such subtle movements without having the benefit of sight is one of the intriguing aspects of any water puppet show.
Outstanding feats of skill and dexterity include the smooth and highly precise passing of items from one puppet to another and various other skillfully combined maneuvers based solely on instinct.
The voice artists for the show were similarly better placed, having seen both puppets and their movements, and would occasionally yell out some kind of codeword when a puppet might drift out of position.
It is quaint, as tradition would have it, that Vietnamese water puppet shows are traditionally conducted sans any hint of English. Language barrier or not, the bright theatrics of the multicolored puppets and the constant wonder of just how the actors can hide beneath the water say so much and provide ample reason that the puppet shows remain engaging!
Other secrets of water puppetry. (Source: Istock)
At the end of every show, the eight puppeteers usually rise out of the water to take a sopping bow. Some Typical Vietnamese Traditional Water Puppetry Scenes: Flag Raising, Dance of the Fairies, Water-spurting Dragon, Dance of the Four Sacred Creatures, Swinging, Thi Mau Returns her Baby, Wrestling, Planting & Pulling up Flags, Buffalo Fighting, Farming, etc.
The most popular water puppet venue is the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater, which is located inside a giant sports complex between Tao Dan Park and the Reunification Palace.
The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre in Saigon has three daily shows: 5 pm, 6:30 pm, and 7:45 pm. Tickets cost US$7.50/show, lasting about 50 minutes each.
Address: 55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Thang Long Water Puppet Theater: Conveniently located next to Hoan Kiem Lake and within walking distance of the Old Quarter, Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is a familiar place to enjoy this traditional art form. This is only a water puppet show running 365 days a year. You can’t miss it.
Where to watch a water puppet show. (Source: Freepik)
The Thang Long Water Puppet Theater has four daily shows: 4:10 pm, 5:20 pm, 6:30 pm, and 8 pm, with the addition of a 3 pm show during the busy winter season between October and April. Tickets cost VND 100,000 (about $4.40; read about money in Vietnam).
Address: 57B Dinh Tien Hoang, Hanoi, Vietnam
Experiencing a water puppet show is an extraordinary voyage through Vietnamese culture and tradition. This meticulously orchestrated composition evokes laughter, anticipation, astonishment, and uplifting moments. It seamlessly combines the art of water puppetry with music, lighting, and technique, delivering a remarkable and unforgettable experience. Don’t hesitate to join Asia King Travel on this special journey.
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