Watch a Show at the Thang Long Water Theater

If you're traveling with children, the water puppet shows at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre are a fantastic opportunity to see traditional Vietnamese art and entertainment. It is advisable to get your tickets as soon as you arrive in the town because the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is one of the most popular tourist sites in Hanoi and tends to sell out well in advance.

First evolved in rural parts of Vietnam during the monsoon paddy field flooding periods, and today, this ancient art form is now mostly performed in custom-made water pools rather than outside. The performances typically feature a live band playing traditional Vietnamese instruments and are based on well-known local legends. Water puppetry is a long-standing Vietnamese tradition that dates back thousands of years. And the Thang Long Water Theater in Hanoi is the best place to see it when visiting Vietnam.