Water-puppetry is one of Vietnam’s most recognisable performing arts and historical records show that it was practiced at least 900 years ago in the regions surrounding what is now Hanoi. Hoi An’s puppet-shows incorporate traditional themes such as boat-racing and other-worldly creatures strutting their stuff.
They have also been designed to appeal to international tourists and scenes depict calamities that have befallen Asian nations in recent times. At the debut performances, both domestic and foreign tourists applauded all the different acts in the shows.
Show times for Hoi An Water Puppetry are from 18:30 onwards on the two evenings. Ticket prices are VND80,000 for adults and VND40,000 for children.
Local tourism officials say puppetry will add another jewel to the UNESCO recognised World Heritage Site’s myriad visitor attractions. Hoi An is situated in Quang Nam Province. It faces the South China Sea and is 20kms south of Da Nang.
Hoi An inaugurates new water puppet shows
News in Asia
The culture centre in the Vietnamese town of Hoi An inaugurated its first water-puppet shows last week. The ancient town’s theatre on Hai Ba Trung Street was the venue for the puppetry shows which will now be staged on Friday and Saturday evenings.