Tangled Princess, a new production by Thang Long Puppet Theatre, will be performed at the 5th International Puppet Festival. (Photo: thanglongwaterpuppet.org) Hanoi (VNA) - The 5th International Puppet Festival officially opened in Hanoi on October 8 night with the participation of puppeteers from eight countries, including the host Vietnam. About 100 puppeteers from Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, Belgium, France and Brazil traveled to Vietnam for the festival. The four Vietnamese troupes participating include the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre, Thang Long Puppetry Theatre, Hai Phong Puppetry Theatre and Ho Chi Minh Puppetry Theatre. Tran Huong Duong, Deputy Director of the Performing Arts Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the festival is a chance for Vietnamese puppeteers to introduce the country’s unique and artistic puppetry to the international community. "It also offers Vietnamese puppeteers and art managers a chance to share their … [Read more...] about International Puppet Festival kicks off in Hanoi
Thang long water puppet
Mid-Autumn Festival held at Thang Long Imperial Citadel
A range of meaningful activities, such as festival decoration, folk games, traditional toy-making, etc. are expected to bring joy to children. In addition, the program also includes panel discussions with historians and artisans on the topic of heritage education. The five-day event is one of the various programs which have been hosted by the Thang Long Heritage Conservation Center in recent years to raise the public awareness of national heritage. In 2017, more than 2,600 students from secondary schools and 1,300 from primary schools participated in the heritage education program at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Also in 2017, more than 18,000 children enjoyed Mid-autumn and Tet festivals at the site. On this occasion, the People’s Committee of Hanoi, the Thang Long Heritage Conservation Center and the Hanoi Department of Education and Training signed an agreement on implementing the heritage education program on Thang Long Imperial Citadel and Co Loa Relics Sites. … [Read more...] about Mid-Autumn Festival held at Thang Long Imperial Citadel
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre introduces automatic ticketing
The Thang Long Water Puppet Theater has installed two automatic ticketing machines next to the ticket counter, where visitors can select a date and time and also their seats, with payment made by Visa or debit card. A staff of technicians are also on hand to assist when needed. Photo: Thang Long Water Puppet Theater Many visitors used the machines rather than the ticket counter on the first day the new system was in operation. Foreign visitors are more familiar with automated ticketing so the theater decided to introduce it, according to Deputy Director Mr. Chu Van Luong. It remains new to Vietnamese visitors, however, so the ticket counter remains open. Water puppetry originated in the Red River Delta in Vietnam’s north, where many towns and villages have communal ponds, which were used as the stage when the artform appeared around the 10th century. The villages of Thach That and Dao Thuc in Hanoi and Rach and Nguyen Xa in the nearby provinces of Nam Dinh and Thai Binh … [Read more...] about Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre introduces automatic ticketing
Tourism keeps Vietnam’s ancient water puppets afloat
In a darkened theater in central Hanoi, a wooden dragon emerges from a pool to the sound of cymbals crashing in a traditional water puppet show that lures hundreds of tourists daily but is largely shunned by locals. Backstage behind a thin bamboo screen, around 20 puppeteers slosh around waist-deep in rubber overalls wielding the marionettes with long rods. "The puppets are pretty heavy... and the water also creates resistance," said puppeteer Nguyen Thu Hoai, who swapped her galoshes for flip-flops between sold-out shows. "But our years of training and experience helps us control them," added Hoai, who like many of her colleagues graduated from Hanoi's College of Theater and Cinema. Vietnamese craftsman Pham Viet Duc, 76, putting finishing touches on a water puppet at a workshop in Thai Binh Province. Photo by AFP/Nhac Nguyen Some of the puppets weigh as much as 10 kilograms (22 pounds) and the largest ones, like the one-meter-tall (three-foot) fairy, require four people to … [Read more...] about Tourism keeps Vietnam’s ancient water puppets afloat
Water Puppetry can’t miss in Vietnam
Water puppetry is among the traditional art forms most recommended for foreign visitors in Vietnam. A water puppet performance Megan McCafferty from Scotland found a water puppetry show at Hanoi-based Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, very interesting. She was recommended to see the show by her friends who had visited Vietnam. Even though the stories were in Vietnamese, she still could understand them. “It’s quite good to learn about Vietnamese tradition, culture, and history,” Megan told Vietnam News Agency. Meanwhile, Lauren MacDougan, also from Scotland, called Vietnamese water puppetry a must-see in Hanoi. “The performance was very good,” Lauren said, adding even though she didn’t understand Vietnamese language, it was easy to follow the stories. She expressed her pleasure with convenience of ticket delivery service. “We don’t have to wait. We just came five minutes before the show. It was really good.” Vera Regina from … [Read more...] about Water Puppetry can’t miss in Vietnam