You can read more about this Vietnamese art form at the Wikipedia article for Water puppetry.
I was able to chaperone a field trip with our drama and choir classes to a local water puppet show (this theater is located right next to the Saigon Zoo and Botanic Gardens... in a museum)...
The theater was outside but covered, and really lovely.
Dragons!
My favorite piece of the Wikipedia article on water puppetry is that villagers would entertain each other with water puppet play when the rice fields would flood!
Each piece of the show had a different story... although most were about fighting (whether depicting cultural legends/folktales or national history.
This picture below was from my favorite number... dance of the water fairies!
The artists control the water puppets from behind a screen... standing in waist-deep water the entire time.
They came out for a bow at the end of the show!
And two of the puppeteers were nice enough to stay after for a bit to answer our students' questions and tell use more about this art form specific to Vietnam and its culture...
This looks like a retired water puppet.
They are each made out of wood and then lacquered.
If I were to go to another water puppet show, I would try to make sure to go to a theater that also has live music for the show. This one just played recorded music but I think live music would add a lot.
Also, if I get up to Hanoi again, THAT'S the place to view a water puppet show! ...As this art form originated in the north of Vietnam.
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