Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

The water puppetry troupes perform 4 shows a day at 10 am., 11:30 am., 2:30 pm., and 4 pm.

Everyday, people visit the VME also have an opportunity to enjoy the folk art of water puppetry. Fifteen water puppet troupes from different villages in the Northern Delta take turn to come to the Museum and perform fascinating repertoire.

Many pieces in a water puppetry show reflect the daily life in the countryside such as: ritual to pray for rain, tilling, growing rice, fishing, tending ducks, spinning, silk weaving…; dragon dance, kylin dance, buffalo fight, wrestling, boat racing etc. The shows are performed at the pavilion in an outdoor space full of green trees. The puppets that are controlled skillfully by the farmers-artisans and accompanied with folk music, spoken words, and special folk songs always make the pieces more funny and attractive. 

The VME has brought folk water puppetry into the museum’s space for years not only to serve visitors but also with the hope to together with the public contribute to the preservation of this unique art type.