Thang Long Water Puppet Show, Hanoi – Your 2024 Guide
We often hear about must-see attractions that in reality aren’t worth your time or effort. Occasionally though, you stumble across something special that really does deserve the title of ‘must see’. One such thing is the Thang Long Water Puppet Show in Hanoi. You’ll struggle to find anything like it anywhere else in the world.
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All you need to know before visiting Hanoi’s Water Puppet show
I’m not going to tell you all about the show itself, that’s not my style, I like to keep you curious. Why spoil the show by looking at photos and videos? You might as well be a head in a jar. Anyway, I will tell you a little about it and give you the info about getting tickets, show times and all the other boring stuff.
Is it worth it?
Of course, everything is subjective and not everyone is going to love a water puppet show, but if you’re travelling around Vietnam why wouldn’t you want to spend an hour or so watching a unique, historical and cultural show? In my opinion, going to the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is a must for any travellers in Hanoi. I mean, you can’t spend all day drinking on Ta Hien Street, can you?
History of the Water Puppet Show in Hanoi
The origins of water puppetry can be traced back to the 11th century in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam. Farmers, facing the seasonal floods found a way to make the most of the excess water. They had nothing much else to do until the water receded, so why not put on a show?
Originally, water puppet shows were held in rice paddies, providing both entertainment and a communal gathering for the local community. Over time, the performances became more sophisticated, incorporating intricate puppets, colourful costumes, and traditional music. Now the tradition has found its way to a theatre in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, and is one of the most popular shows in the whole country.
Where is Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre?
Vietnam’s famous water puppet show can be watched at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi. You’ll find it in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, on the northern tip of Hoàn Kiếm Lake. The full address is 57B P. Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
How much is a ticket?
Tickets to see the water puppet show cost between 100.000 – 150.000 VND ($5-7). The price depends on where you sit, the front row centre being the most expensive. So, as you’d hope and expect in Hanoi, it’s super cheap to go and see the show.
How to get tickets to see the Water Puppet show in Hanoi?
If you’re not one for planning you can just visit the theatre and buy tickets from the kiosk out the front. If, though, you like to get things booked and paid for upfront and by card online, you can use Get Your Guide to pre-book your ticket to the water puppet show in Hanoi.
What time is the show?
Another great thing about the Thang Long Water Puppet Show is that they don’t stop performing. There are five shows every single day! You can watch the show at 15:30, 17:00, 18:30, 20:00 or 21:15.
Don’t let that fool you into thinking that there will always be tickets available though. The Thang Long Water Puppet Show is so damn good that they sell out for pretty much every single show.
How long does the water puppet show last?
Each water puppet show in Hanoi lasts around 50 minutes. Which, in my opinion, was perfect. Not too short that you leave wanting more, but also not too long that you start to get bored, sleepy or hungry.
So there you have it, a quick and easy guide to the Thang Long Water Puppet Show in Hanoi. Enjoy the show.
Looking for more ideas of things to do in Hanoi?
If you’re looking for more inspiration on what to do in Hanoi you should check out Get Your Guide’s full list of trips, tours and tickets. They offer tickets to everything that’s going on in and around Hanoi. You can check the trips out, pay securely online and even cancel for a refund if you change your mind. And that includes the hottest tickets in town – skip-the-line tickets to the water puppet show.
If you’re hungry for more travel tips and stories, head on over to my blog where I’ve got more tips and info, including these ones in Vietnam…
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Vietnam Visa Extension In Hoi An
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Wonderpark Nha Trang – Does It Exist In 2024?
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About the author – The Sketchy Traveller
I’m not really a stickman, but it seems that I like portraying myself as one.
I’m an English guy who’s been travelling since 2017. I was never good at taking photos, sketching just seems to work better for me, and in my opinion, why do you want to see other people’s 4K videos and pictures of the world? Surely it’s better to see it for yourself. You can get in touch through the contact page or Instagram.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Happy travelling.