Overview
50 minutes
Mobile ticket
Enjoy the grand spectacle of traditional Vietnamese water puppetry, with intricately-designed puppets performing over a pool of water
Spare your family the stress of waiting for tickets to these popular evening shows
Experience legends and stories of Vietnamese life from generations ago
With the entrance ticket you have the chance to relish in the fascinating art of a water puppet show, which is closely associated with the spiritual life of Vietnamese people, especially in the countryside. The show’s chosen stage is the surface of a water pool. The puppeteers present their clever skills in managing puppets by long bamboo rods and string mechanism under the surface. A traditional Vietnamese orchestra is an excellent music accompaniment.
The puppets depict the story from the songs during the show, which reflects the peaceful life of the Vietnamese countryside, so it is not too difficult to understand it.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater
Visit: Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater, Ho Chi Minh City Generations ago, Vietnamese puppeteers performed for their rural communities in waist-deep water, bringing to life legends and stories about their region. Water puppetry theaters like Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater continue that tradition into the modern day and are a fun, family-friendly way to experience a hallmark of traditional Vietnamese culture. With the entrance ticket you have the chance to relish in the fascinating art of a water puppet show, which is closely associated with the spiritual life of Vietnamese people, especially in the countryside. The show’s chosen stage is the surface of a water pool. The puppeteers present their clever skills in managing puppets by long bamboo rods and string mechanism under the surface. A traditional Vietnamese orchestra is an excellent music accompaniment. The puppets depict the story from the songs during the show, which reflects the peaceful life of the Vietnamese countryside, so it is not too difficult to understand it.
Cu Chi Tunnels
Entrance Tickets for Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater
Options
Show time: 18:30
Duration: 50 minutes
Showtime: 18:30
What‘s Included
All Fees and Taxes
Coffee and/or Tea
Meeting points
Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater
55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Quận 1 Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Reviews
37 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Could not be seen
GoPlaces07172606228,Mar 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Abysmal. It was not possible to see if not in front three rows due to rude people filming with cameras and ipads raised above their heads. Other shows forbid this but not Golden Dragon. The staff would not put a stop to this misbehaviour so I left after 20-minutes or so along with about half-a-dozen other people. I'm quite sure the show was lovely but the theatre would no allow most people to see it
Nice
sarahrobinson1994,Feb 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00My boyfriend and I decided to see this show in Ho Chi Minh City because we really missed the water puppet experience we had in Hanoi. We loved it so much there that we wanted to relive it again in Vietnam. The show in HCMC was nice and easy to watch. The musicians playing live music was probably my favorite part, it really creates a special atmosphere. The performance is fun, colorful, and not too long, so it’s a good evening activity if you’re in the city. That being said, I personally preferred the show in Hanoi. It felt a bit more impressive and memorable to me. Maybe it’s because that was our first time seeing water puppets, but I remember being more amazed there. If you’re already in Ho Chi Minh City, it’s still a good cultural experience. But if you have the option, I would recommend watching the show in Hanoi instead.
Joyful folk theatre, a must see!
320penelopeg,Jun 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Joyful, funny and skilful. A very enjoyable show, lots of slapstick comedy, exquisitely choreographed puppet movement, accompanied by a band of tremendous folk musicians. Everyone was having fun! I can understand why this has been popular for 1000 years!
A brilliant performance
119julied,Mar 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A group of 14, we all absolutely loved this show. What a magnificent event! The musicians are brilliant, the operators of the puppets are wonderful and the whole show was just magical. It didn’t matter that it was all in a language we didn’t know, the puppet operators are so clever and the musicians so skilled the nuance in the performances was real. I didn’t really know what to expect, and I personally am no lover of puppets, but this is exceptional. Suitable for children and adults absolutely worth seeing.
Mesmerising
495helenv,Mar 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an amazing experience. We visited the show as part of our tour package and it didn't disappoint. The music, singing, costumes and puppets were mesmerising. Big well done to the people controlling the puppets. Very clever. Definitely worth seeing if in Hanoi.
Amazing show
Philip W,Mar 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is a must do if you visit Ho Chi Minh, the puppeteers are amazing, kids and adults alike will love the show. Worth paying a bit extra for skip the line as you also get front row seats👍. 40 minutes of fun *****
Fantastic show to see!
Sightseer514167,Feb 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an awesome show to come watch, great display of history, culture and humor all together. Go early for best seats. Well worth it!
Water puppet show
SUNITARJ1,Feb 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was an interesting show. I enjoyed it. It was interesting how all the characters were working. Well played and I recommend this highly
Joyful Vietnamese enchantment
Sightsee748208,Feb 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Nothing else like it! Fantastical Vietnamese puppets perform on a staged water world, accompanied by musicians playing traditional instruments. Your inner child will love every minute!
Waste of time tbh
Dez92,Nov 17, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00My friend wanted to watch this show and I thought why not since it is only 150K vnd ~ $8 SGD and to our disappointment it was so bad. First, there was no translation services at all so we are stuck 45mins just listening to Vietnamese and watching people "flailing" in the waters with their puppets dancing in the air. It was very very very bad. You could not even pay me 500Kvnd to watch this show, I would decline.
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