Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Nhà hát Múa rối Thăng Long
A water puppetry tradition rooted in the thousand-year farming culture of the Red River Delta, accompanied by live folk music. The 50-minute show is Hanoi's most classic evening activity.
Water puppetry began in the rice-paddy villages of the Red River Delta in the 11th century. Performers stand waist-deep in water behind a screen and work the puppets with long bamboo poles, bringing to life scenes of farming, fishing, dragon and phoenix dances, and legends such as Le Loi returning the sacred sword. The live accompaniment uses traditional Vietnamese instruments, including the dan bau (monochord), the dan nguyet (moon lute), and the bamboo flute, along with cheo opera singing. Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is located at No. 57B Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street, at the northeast corner of Hoan Kiem Lake. Founded in 1969, it is Vietnam's most famous water puppet troupe. Performances run five to six times a day (around 15:00, 16:10, 17:20, 18:30, and 20:00, with extra shows in peak season). Each show lasts about 50 minutes and features 17 short pieces. Tickets come in two tiers, 100,000 and 200,000 dong, with front-row seats costing more. You can buy them online or at the box office on site. In peak season (October to December), book at least one day ahead. The theatre provides programmes in Chinese and English, and photography incurs a small extra fee. Viewing tips: front-row seats offer the best view but may get a little splashed. Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake before the show, and have dinner on Tạ Hiện Street in the Old Quarter afterward. Alternative: the Lotus Water Puppet Theatre in Ba Dinh district has slightly lower prices and smaller crowds. Getting there: the theatre is an easy walk along the lakeshore. Note: Non-Vietnamese speakers can follow the story through the visuals alone, which makes it ideal for families with children. Avoid moving around during the performance.
Opening hours
Multiple performances daily, approx. 15:00–21:00
Nearby sights
- Tạ Hiện Beer Street
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Hanoi Old Quarter
- St. Joseph's Cathedral
- Đồng Xuân Market
- Vietnamese Women's Museum
- Hanoi Opera House
- Hỏa Lò Prison