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Thang Long Water Puppet Theater

Hanoi, Vietnam
High interest
Booked 5+ times today.
+8
  • 55 minutes (approx.)

Why travelers loved this

4.3
·
· ROBIN_B ·
Feb 2026
well organised entry and audio available. show was fantastic, funny in parts and you could understand what was happening without the audio. thoroughly enjoyed it. attendants very efficient in placing seating ready for show.
· Samie_L ·
Mar 2026
Loved the show! Everyone in our group loved it. I didn’t know much about it, only that people were recommending to see it. It was well worth it.

Overview

Water puppetry is one of Hanoi's signature cultural experiences, but its shows are popular, and seats fill quickly. Secure your spot by booking tickets to the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater ahead of your visit, where puppeteers work waist-deep behind a water stage to bring the folk art to life. Take in the performance's music, lighting, and puppetry, a tradition rooted in Vietnam's wet-rice farming villages.
  • See Thang Long's puppeteers perform the folk art over a water stage
  • Enjoy a traditional cultural performance, away from the tourist trail
  • Express performance fits easily into busy vacation schedules
  • Multiple show times and upgrade options are available

What's Included

  • All Fees and Taxes

    Meeting and Pickup

    Departure Point

    • Thang Long Water Puppet, 57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hanoi 10000 Vietnam

    Ticket Redemption Point

    Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, 57B Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

    What To Expect

    1

    Thang Long Water Puppet

    55 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Near public transportation
    • Most travelers can participate

    Cancellation Policy

    This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

    Traveler Photos

    Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

    Reviews

    4.3
    based on 143 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
    Sort by: Most insightful

    Entertaining puppet show

    Marc_N, Jul 2026
    Nice and colorful musical performance. We were comfortably seated and could watch perfectly the show. However, because we don't understand Vietnamese, we were just trying to guess what the story was about. We would have enjoyed it more if we had been able to download a presentation of the story in English.

    good performance

    Sungpa_P, Jul 2026
    unique performance in good price. it could have been better with english subtitle since it has some story in it.

    Cultural experience

    Sonya_Y, May 2026
    Ima bit of a mix up at first They couldn’t find our booking but all worked out . Puppereers very talented a cultural experience . Worth it if you have enough time or you want to get out of the heat

    Great Experience

    Eric_J, May 2026
    Great cultural experience in Hanoi. Would recommend getting English audio for those who want a more thorough understanding of the dialogue

    The Water Puppet Experience

    Pratap_T, Apr 2026
    It was a unique and insightful show performed with great skill. Provides an insight into traditional Vietnamese Culture. Would have been better appreciated had there been a simultaneous English commentary.

    Story telling

    Diana_F, Apr 2026
    Very nice and relaxing experience to learn more about Vietnamese traditions, culture and myths. Highly recommended!

    Go see this show!

    Samie_L, Mar 2026
    Loved the show! Everyone in our group loved it. I didn’t know much about it, only that people were recommending to see it. It was well worth it.

    water puppet show Hanoi

    ROBIN_B, Feb 2026
    well organised entry and audio available. show was fantastic, funny in parts and you could understand what was happening without the audio. thoroughly enjoyed it. attendants very efficient in placing seating ready for show.

    Funny

    Louise_M, Feb 2026
    A great show. I have no idea what they were saying but it was fun to watch. Great for adults and kuds.

    Bad experince.

    Khalid_A, Dec 2025
    Bad treat, no system, totally unorganized, worst tour in Hanoi, some people even can not find seat, came early but entered after show start, very ubsured thing, no even apology. Advise; do not go to waste time.

    Don't miss

    Samia_A, Dec 2025
    The show is a unique experience, which I highly recommend. The ticketing experience was unfortunately really stressful. Although we booked ahead online, when we got to the theatre they said our ticket had been changed to a show 3 hours later. We were on a strict schedule so we had to really fight to get seated for the show we booked. What I understood is a third party possibly overbooks via Viator separate to the actual theatre. The theatre then issues the tickets as they see fit and seem to prioritise walk ups over those who booked online until the last minute. There were a lot of frustrated people (including myself) waiting for the box office to give them their tickets via the third party vendor whilst those who turned up just bought without any hassle at the box office. If you can maybe buy your tickets a day or couples hours ahead at the box office.

    Interesting and unique theatre and definitely get an audio guide

    olesea_p, Dec 2025
    We enjoyed the show, was unique and interesting to learn about Vietnamese folklore . Definitely get an audio guide!

    Waste of time unless you get the 1st row.

    Alon_G, Sep 2025
    The elevation between rows is insufficient. I sat in the 3rd row, and all I could see were the heads of people in front of me. ( I'm 1.80 m tall - imagine if I were shorter.) The legroom is also inadequate. My knees were pressed against the seat in front of me. (Imagine if I were taller than 1.80 m.) The only reason I didn’t walk out mid-show was because it would have forced the entire row to stand up just to let me pass. On top of that, the high-pitched volume was unbearably loud - something that could easily be fixed with proper EQ. Bottom line: a total waste of time.

    Great performance for the whole family

    Ben_B, Jul 2025
    We attended the water puppet show in Vietnam and found it to be a delightful and culturally rich experience. The artistry behind the puppetry was impressive, colourful characters gliding across the water, accompanied by traditional music and live narration. It was fascinating to see stories of rural life and folklore brought to life in such a unique format. While the show was visually captivating and family-friendly, we hired the headsets for English translation but in all fairness I’d save your money as you’ll follow along fine. The performance lasted just under an hour, which was the perfect length to keep everyone engaged. Overall, we’d definitely recommend this show to travelers looking for an authentic taste of Vietnamese heritage. It’s a memorable way to spend an evening, especially if you’re curious about local traditions and performing arts.

    Amazing 5 stars

    Charlene_E, Jul 2025
    Amazing show! My family and i loved every minute of the show.. amazing music and puppetry Must see it!!

    Viator ripoff

    James_S, Jun 2025
    Don't book with Viator. Rip-off. Charged double the price of the ticket for no benefit. Puppet show was ok

    It's funny.

    Luigi_R, Jan 2026
    Nice experience. The puppet show really enjoyed me. Pleasant and relaxing evening.
    Auto-translated

    Excellent show.

    Jose_R, Nov 2025
    Original, different. Great professionalism, both in puppets and musicians! Recommended, I would say essential while in Hanoi.
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    To see....to make his opinion

    Sandy_A, Oct 2025
    A must in Hanoi... I was not subjugated but it is also interested in the culture of other countries.
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    Ferie

    585clausp, Jan 2020
    Virkelig er besøg værd. Tager 3/4 time. Vi havde 2 børn med - 11 og 13 år. Selvom det foregik på Vietnamesisk syntes de at det var rigtig godt

    From $9.00

    per person

    -You will not receive a refund if you cancel.

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