Dancing Puppets on Water

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Puppet shows all over the world entertain both children and adults. They are an important part of the traditions of many countries. But there is no other show quite like the Vietnamese Water Puppet Theatre. As the puppets act out myths, legends and tales of everyday life, they appear to dance on a stage full of water!

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Vietnamese Water Puppet Theatre has a very long history. It started around a thousand years ago when farmers discovered that flooded rice fields made a perfect stage for puppet shows. The flooded rice fields were perfect because they could hide the puppets’ strings and bamboo rods under the water. Over the years, the puppet shows became more popular and there were competitions to choose the best one.

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Nowadays, audiences don’t need to go to rice fields to see a performance. There are moveable stages and buildings that have tanks specially designed for water puppets. The surface of the water in these tanks is more than just a stage for the puppets. Hidden behind a bamboo wall, the puppeteers can create splashes and waves that add to the excitement, just like special effects in the latest Hollywood blockbusters!

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The handmade wooden puppets can be over one metre tall and weigh as much as 15 kg. They often have a glossy finish to protect them from the water. Nothing protects the eight puppeteers standing behind the scenery, though – they spend the whole two-hour show up to their waists in a pool of water.

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The puppeteers tell many different tales during a typical performance. Many are stories about fishing and farming, or legends and national history.

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There is also a traditional orchestra to one side of the stage that accompanies the action and a fireworks display as a finale. Vietnamese Water Puppet Theatre is one part of Vietnam’s cultural heritage that visitors shouldn’t miss.