Traditional Puppet Theater

Since 1969, this theater has been bringing múa rối nước, or water puppetry, to life. This art form started over a thousand years ago in the flooded rice fields of the Red River Delta and is now recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Inside, the stage is a pool of water instead of a traditional platform. The puppets seem to float or rise from the surface, moved by artists hidden behind a screen using rods and mechanisms under the water. For about fifty minutes, live music, singing, and colorful puppets bring Vietnamese villages, legends, and classic stories to life. The show is playful, poetic, and visually stunning — a cultural experience not to be missed in Hanoi.