Water puppet is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. Today’s Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition.
The puppets are made from wood and then lacquered. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool. A large bamboo rod supports the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers, who are normally hidden behind a screen, to control them. Thus, the puppets appear to be moving over the water.
With roots that go back to 3,000 BC, the art of puppetry has graced stages worldwide and still manages to lure a crowd around the world, no matter how technologically sophisticated today’s entertainment. But not like any other puppet show you’ve seen before, the puppet show in Vietnam this folk tradition has a special twist: both the puppeteers and their lacquered wooden puppets perform on water. From behind a bamboo curtain, the puppeteers stand in knee-deep water and control their subjects via long rods and strings, moving them along the water surface as they depict heroic fables or daily farm life. Certainly, it will be much great if tourists can directly watch these shows in popular tourist destinations like Hanoi, Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh City. If you want to buy some gifts, water puppet replicas for sale are available in many souvenir shops in Hanoi Old Quarter.
For many people, discovering the beauty of a country’s culture can be the original spark for lifelong dreams about traveling there. Vietnamese art is the triumph of life and happiness over hardship. These art forms are just a small sampling of the rich traditional arts of Vietnam. Now that restrictions on travel to Vietnam are being lessened, it’s a great time to learn more about the country’s culture as a way to enhance our experiences when we visit. You are sure to discover more remarkable art, both traditional and modern, on your Vietnam vacation.