Water Puppetry in Vietnam
Water Puppetry in Vietnam is a unique traditional fold stage art stile, a creation of Vietnamese people. However, if asked some people “Have you ever seen water puppetry?”, perhaps the “yes” answer would not many. Studying and experiencing it are interesting things.
Puppetry exists in many countries in the world, but water puppetry only exists in Vietnam. It has appeared since the Ly dynasty (1010-1225). Along the time, Water Puppetry in Vietnam has been conveyed from generation to generation, become the elegant game of Vietnamese people. The first text evidence was carved on the stone steal in 1121.
The water surface is used as a stage. The surround of the stage is decorated with flags, parasols, fans…Besides the stage is also supported by sound system hidden behind the stage.
Puppets are made from “sung” wood, a kind of light wood floating on the water surface. A puppet has two parts. The above is the puppet character. It has many colors and looks funny. The under is the sole keeping the character balanced, containing the control machine.
To act, a puppet has to be controlled by an artist hiding behind the screens. The artist holds two sticks connecting with the machine set under the sole of the puppet.
Water Puppetry in Vietnam is about symbols such as novice, fairy, dragon, phoenix, herds-man…
Above is some knowledge about water puppetry. Today water puppetry programs are carried out throughout Vietnam. In Ho Chi Minh City, Yellow Dragon Water Puppetry Theater is the favorite address of so many audiences. Its stage is invested, equipped modern sound, light; artists are talented people; Perhaps therefore, although each show the theater serves 200 seats, almost it is tight all the time.
Relating Information about Yellow Dragon Water Puppetry Theater:
– Address: 55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ben Thanh ward, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
– Each show acts 50 minutes.D
-Vietnamese customers and foreign customers are the same ticket price.
– showing time: 17:00 to 17:50 , 18:30 to 19:20.
– Three-year children and over are counted the same as adult.
– Under three-year children are free.
You can book our Water Puppet Show Tour HERE. to watch the amazing show and enjoy delicious dinner on cruise. One more interesting thing is that you will be driven by our beautiful tour guide by motorbike like locals.
“Uncle Tễu” A Rural M.C. and a Friend of the Poor
The Dragon in the Soul of the Vietnamese
Peaceful Childhood in Countryside
Traditional Daily Life in Rural Villages
Heroic Legends and the Vietnamese Spirit
Vietnamese People’s Traditional Fondness for Learning
Folk Festivals: Ritual Processions and Games
“Uncle Tễu” A Rural M.C. and a Friend of the Poor
“Uncle Tễu” is the name given to a puppet who is a young jovial, healthy and poor farmer. He is half-naked and wears only a loin-cloth. Tễu represents lovable young men in many popular legends. Vietnamese people are poor but honest, we always show our sympathy to the poor. In folk performances, Uncle Tễu often wittily gives extempore stories. On this show, the audience can see the image of buffoons in different forms of traditional Vietnamese opera such as “chèo” or “tuồng”. These characters make use of their inferior status to protect justice and the poor by mocking bad habits in society.
The Dragon in the Soul of the Vietnamese
Vietnamese dragons symbolize the power of nobility, justice and authority. This is the most colorful and spectacular part of water puppetry with two dragons playing together or with a ball and even fire. Skillful artists are required to perform these activities. There are also other animal dances. These animals are reflected in four sacred animals (tứ linh): Dragons, Unicorns, Phoenixes and Tortoises.
Peaceful Childhood in Countryside
The childhood of a Vietnamese in countryside is simply sitting on the back of a buffalo and playing flute. What a peaceful and beautiful memory? A Vietnamese folk song says: “Who dares to say that raising buffaloes is a hard work. No, it is very happy!”
Traditional Daily Life in Rural Villages
For thousands of years, Vietnamese farmers have made their living by farming. All stages of wet rice cultivation are introduced on the show: ploughing and raking the fields with buffaloes, channeling to flood the fields, sowing rice seeds throughout the fields, plucking and transplanting them to the main field, cutting ripe rice.
Heroic Legends and the Vietnamese Spirit
The legend about returning the magic sword by King Lê Lợi to the Gold Tortoise is one of the most wonderful though the long history of Vietnam. In 1427, Lê Lợi defeated the invaders and proclaimed himself the king with the help of the sword given by a tortoise. One day, he took a boat trip on the lake and a huge tortoise appeared and wanted him to return the sword. The lake was named “Hoàn Kiếm” (Sword Returning Lake) since then.
