Stories from local legends are told at this theatre with hand-carved wooden dolls and colourful dragons that perform on a stage on the water.

The Vietnamese art of water puppetry is a true cultural experience that is not to be missed while in Hanoi. Performed entirely in Vietnamese, the music and gesturing puppets tell a story that can be interpreted by all.

The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre was founded in 1969 and is one of the best places to watch the art of Vietnamese water puppetry. Dating back to the 11th century, this unique type of performance art started in the waters of the Red River that runs through Hanoi.

Today, the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is one of the few traditional theatres still in operation and its wooden, lacquered puppets are world-famous. Since 1990 the theatre has regularly travelled internationally and has appeared at art festivals all over the world.

Performed on a stage that resembles a pond, puppeteers stand waist deep in the water, hidden behind a screen. They spectacularly manoeuvre the puppets with a long, submerged rod. Expect to get splashed if you are seated in the front row, however, this is also the prime spot to admire the exquisite details of the handcrafted puppets. Enjoy the screams of surprise from the audience when dragons or princes emerge out of the water and see local legends unfold.

There is a live orchestra and the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is known for its comical performances, so you’ll be laughing a lot too.

Stay back after the performance to enjoy a drink at the theatre’s café, which has great views over picturesque Lake Hoan Kiem.

Shows at the theatre are all under an hour in length. Booking the inexpensive ticket in advance is recommended, as the theatre is incredibly popular.

The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is located on the edge of the Old Quarter. The theatre is open daily and there are up to six shows per day. Some shows display an English translation on a screen

Plan a trip to see Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

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Hanoi Lotus Boutique Hotel

Old Quarter

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The room was comfortable, looked just like the pictures. Very clean and comfortable. The ladies at the front desk were super nice! Helped me with laundry request, change the date of the reservation and printing boarding passes. My only issue that i had is that breakfast is at a nearby place but food was not being replenished and also the bakery items had some growth inside. So we decided not to have breakfast for the remaining of the days

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Catherine Cruises

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Perth (PER) to Hanoi (HAN)

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Even though there was a problem with the dates we booked aligning with their schedule, Catherine Cruises went above and beyond to ensure we were on an equally luxurious cruise ship with another company to suit our schedule. And rather than just handing us over to another company, they proactively managed the whole thing with amazing communications and care levels. This demonstrates an exceptional level of commitment to customer service - even when we're not even on their boat! We hope to revisit them and experience their service on their own boat soon! Defo a big thumbs up to this company.

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The Oriental Jade Hotel

Old Quarter

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Best hotel in Hanoi Old quarter

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