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Vietnamese Water Puppet Shows have been entertaining audiences for generations. The Red River Delta rice fields are the birthplace of this one-of-a-kind production that weaves together narrative, music, and elaborate puppetry. Let's unveil the story behind every water puppet show with its long-standing history, content and cultural values. Don't forget to check out our recommendation for this unique type of Vietnamese folk art.
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1. History of Vietnamese Water Puppet Show
'Múa rối nước' is the Vietnamese term for water puppetry, a mysterious and historically significant art form. How the concealed puppeteers manage to control the small figures with such proficiency remains a mystery to this day, even though many tourists in Hanoi go to the main theater to witness the peculiar art form.
There is no clear answer of when water puppetry existed in Vietnam. However, according to some scholars, in the 11th century, under the Ly Dynasty, water puppetry arose in the Red River Delta and other rice-growing regions in Northern Vietnam. It is a way for Vietnamese farmers to put on performances to amuse themselves and others after a long and arduous harvest. They also thought the displays would stop the evil spirits from causing damage to their crops through mischief-making. In the 12th century, water puppetry was highly appreciated and frequently used to entertain the royal family.
Farmers would construct pagodas atop their rice paddies and use them as stages for community festival performances showcasing their puppets and their mastery of the art form. Farmers in the Red River Delta reportedly changed their traditional puppetry to operate the wooden figurines from waist-deep water when devastating floods swept through the rice terraces. The result was the creation of the liquid stage, which served to envelop the puppeteers, improve the show's acoustics, and impart an air of mysticism.
The skill of puppet control was closely guarded by farmers from its inception, since they took great pride in their craft. For fear that their daughters might marry outside the village and divulge their secret method, they handed their abilities down solely to men. Puppeteers still need to put in three years of training before they can perform, and their techniques are often kept secret within the family.
2. The Setting of a Water Puppet Show
The Puppet
Crafted from wood, the puppet may reach a weight of fifteen kilograms each piece. Therefore, the craft of water puppet shows requires a lot of physical skill. During the performance, puppeteers stand in water and manipulate its movement to amplify the illusion, convey story, and heighten the drama. The puppet in general is made of bouncy fig wood and coated with lacquer. However, the most important thing that makes a patent puppet is the artisans who make it. With deft use of bamboo sticks and strings, the puppeteers expertly control the puppet's arms. Being a skilled water puppeteer takes a lot of practice and decades of dedication.
We see the puppets floating in the water. Come from across the stage or even from the dark depths of the water, the puppets come to life. Once upon a time, when the rice fields were inundated, the peasants would amuse themselves with this puppet form.
The stage
Although traditionally performed in flooded rice paddies, modern water puppet plays in Vietnam take place in a pool of water. There are now three options for where performances take place: in specially designed buildings with pool stages or on traditional ponds in communities with staging areas.
The pools are adorned with red flags, parasols, and tiered canopies to mimic the altars seen in traditional Vietnamese temples. Situated on each side of the stage, the musical group breathes life into the stories with their voices and traditional instruments.
Music
In the background, you can hear the music of a traditional Vietnamese orchestra. Singers from North Vietnam who specialize in Cheo opera perform the songs that accompany the water puppet shows. The performance often begins with an introduction by a pig-tailed countryman called Teu and continues with a tiny folk orchestra accompanying up to eighteen brief scenes. In the course of the performance, the puppets and the musicians communicate with one another; the musicians may call out a word of encouragement to a puppet that is struggling or a word of warning to one that is in danger.
When the show starts
The performances are based on Vietnamese mythology and have a rural vibe. It recounts traditional Vietnamese folk stories passed down from one generation to the next and the mundane realities of life in rural Vietnam. Of which stories of the harvest, of fishing and of festivities are featured.
Introducing Tễu, the comic host, is a standard beginning to each traditional entertainment. As the show progresses, Tễu, a legendary figure, will guide you through a variety of sceneries and tales with his amusing storytelling. Herding ducks, fishing, growing rice, rowing boats, and royal parades are all part of the colorful puppet show that takes place in the villages of northern Vietnam. Vietnamese folktales, which are featured in certain performances, always have a moral.
The lake also serves as the ideal backdrop for the puppet show's central topic, which is the routines of rural life. Farming, fishing, festival events (like buffalo battles), and children's pastimes (like marbles and coin toss) are all given a humorous twist by water puppets. When fishing becomes a mental game between the fisherman and his target, the fisherman usually comes out on the losing end (often catching his neighbor by accident). Legends and national history are included in the scenes, along with rural life.
3. Where to watch the Water Puppet Show?
Thang Long Water Puppet Theater (Hanoi)
- Address: 57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Ticket Price: VND 100,000 - 200,000/ticket
The most well-known venue in Hanoi to witness water puppet performances is Thang Long Theater, which is located close to Hoan Kiem Lake. There are seven or eight performances accessible every day. Each and every one of Thang Long's puppet shows has performances by skilled artists who have had extensive training and who are also quite imaginative.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theater uses water puppetry to present not only Vietnamese cultural traditions and customs but also great Western productions such as "Swan Lake" from Russia and "Bullfighting" from Spain.
Lotus Water Puppet Theater (Hanoi)
- Address: 16 Le Thai To Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Ticket Price: VND 100,000/ticket
Hanoi is home to some very remarkable puppet theaters, one of which is Lotus Water Puppet Theater. You could hear it called Viet Culture Space or Vietnam Contemporary Art Theater. Performers in Hanoi's Lotus Water Puppet Show are from traditional artisan communities and are seasoned artists and musicians. The program is refreshingly modern in its blend of classic and modern elements.
Vietnam National Puppet Theater (Hanoi)
- Address: 361 Truong Chinh Street, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi
- Ticket Price: VND 100,000 - 250,000/ticket
Built with the purpose of preserving and promoting this ancient art form, the National Puppet Theater is Vietnam's largest puppetry facility. One stage is located within the theater, while the other is at "thủy đình," a pavilion stage in the middle of the pond, where Hanoi water puppet acts are performed. Performers from the Vietnam National Puppetry Theater also travel across the country and around the world, bringing their water puppet displays.
An absolutely delightful way to see the local culture is by attending a Hanoi water puppet play. Do not hesitate to reserve a seat for a water puppet performance if you are eager to see the wonders of Vietnamese culture.
The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater (Saigon)
- Address: 55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1, HCMC
- Ticket: ~ VND 300,000/ticket
Just a short 5-minute stroll away from Ho Chi Minh City hall is the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater. It is conveniently located in the middle of the city's busy center and may be reached by public transportation, motorcycle, or taxi. Water puppet shows at the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater, set to live music, are a one-of-a-kind and fascinating way to see traditional Vietnamese art. Anyone visiting Vietnam should make time to visit this theater, which is known for its creative sets, skilled actors, and lively ambiance. Spectacular performances based on timeless folktales and legends such as "Thach Sanh and Ly Thong," "Journey to the West," "Magic Bottle," "Cinderella," "The Mermaid," "Aladdin," and many more have brought this cultural treasure great fame.
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