Thang Long Water Puppet Theater, Hanoi > Reviews

Advantages: N/A
Disadvantages: Ugly underbelly behind slick PR

Before you visit the puppet theatre, consider what forces tug the strings of those darling, dancing puppets. After meeting the theatre director and requesting photographs for a Hanoi magazine article I am writing, I did not receive them. So I returned to the theatre, opened the door of the corridor leading to her office and took two steps. Through the open door of a smoke-filled conference room, I was greeted by a flurry of pointing and barked ... Read review

Advantages: The theatre lets you have an insight into Vietnamese culture
Disadvantages: None

I visited the Puppet Theatre on my first trip to Hanoi and to Vietnam as a whole. The theatre is located on the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake which is a beautiful setting. Inside the theatre is small and makes you feel like you are really involved. The performance itself was magical. There is a pool of water which is used as the set and a traditional Vietnamese folk story is told using puppets. The puppeteers are positioned below and behind the pool and ... Read review