Vietnam: Thang Long Water Puppet Show

Overview

Mobile ticket

Step into the enchanting history of the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi, where an ancient art form dating back to the 11th century comes alive.

Originating in the flooded rice paddies of rural Vietnam, villagers once stood waist-deep in water, bringing stories to life with puppets gliding magically across the surface. Hidden behind screens, puppeteers used long rods to control the intricately crafted puppets, creating the illusion of life on water. the world-famous theater continues to captivate audiences with its unique blend of tradition, artistry, and storytelling, offering a glimpse into Vietnam's vibrant cultural heritage.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Public transportation options are available nearby

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Confirmation will be received at the time of booking

A Viator/TripAdvisor confirmation booking will be sent at the time of confirmation is not the official ticket.

The official ticket will be sent to you within 24 hours

For assistance with redemption/ticket issues, kindly contact GlobalTix Customer Support Live Chat by WhatsApp Message

No flash photography is permitted

Please note that you have to collect the actual tickets at the local operator's office at least 30 minutes before the show

Show times occasionally change due to availability. In this case the local operator will contact you in advance

Please note that you have to be at the theater at least 10-30 minutes before the show start time

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Show program

All taxes, fees, and handling charges

Skip-the-line Thang Long Water Puppet Theater ticket

Multilingual Audio Guide (if you choose Multilingual Audio Guide ticket)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Thang Long Water Puppet

57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hanoi Vietnam

End points

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Thang Long Water Puppet

Skip the lines at the Water Puppet Theater with this convenient service that includes show tickets and flexible time options. Enjoy a live 50-minute performance showcasing one of Vietnam's most iconic art forms, water puppetry, which originated over a thousand years ago in the Red River Delta. Once depicting the daily lives of villagers through farming, fishing, and children’s games, modern performances now weave in ancient legends and myths, offering a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s cultural heritage.

Admission Included

Options

VIP Ticket (1-5 Rows)

Deluxe Ticket (6 - 10 Rows)

Standard Ticket

Standard Ticket + Audio Guide

Languages: Vietnamese, English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, French, German, Spanish.

Deluxe Ticket + Audio Guide

(6 - 10 Rows): Languages: Vietnamese, English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, French, German, Spanish.

VIP Ticket + Audio Guide

(1-5 Rows): Languages: Vietnamese, English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, French, German, Spanish.

Reviews

3.79

19 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Great show, would definitely recommend
CARLOS O,
Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00
Great experience, use the audio guide, you’ll learn some facts about Vietnamese culture. Sound is a little bit too loud in the theatre. I just wish we would have gotten the tickets online and not having to wait for them to be delivered to the theatre right before the show,.
Water puppet show
Marissa G,
Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
It was amazing to see the puppet water show in person, such a beautiful show. The music was amazing, the singing and the art.
One more check mark in Hanoi
Joyna K,
Oct 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The performance was great andy children enjoyed it. Audio guide was helpful to understand what each dance meant.
Poor service and not good for money
mishamelvin,
Oct 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
Thang long water puppet show is really nice and a must see when you come to Hanoi but the Globaltix is poor service and not good value for money. I do not recommend
Bought tickets but did not get to see the show, Disappointing
dylan68531,
Oct 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
Disappointing Bought tickets but did not get to see the show Whilst it's not the fault of the theatre I feel compelled to tell my story as Viator never replied to my email and report about what happened right on the doorstep of this theatre. Whilst standing at the box office with the already purchased tickets in my hand The theatre told me nothing had happened like this before but I was left feeling very vulnerable as it happened in a top tourist spot at a very busy time with crowds of tourists queuing up. Bad attitude spoilt our show ! I hope the management will look into this.
I have been to Puppet...
Lorna N,
Oct 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
I have been to Puppet Shows before during my travels but your show was by far the best. Firstly, the method and mechanics use to move the puppets is unique and makes the show more realistic than string movements. Secondly, the oratory was clear, audible and humorous. Having live musicians added a theatre atmosphere that made this show’s performance eclipse a simple puppet show. The audio guide gave an introduction to each skit so one could follow the actions. It was wonderful a must see.?
Albeit it’s my fault that...
Gideon L,
Sep 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00
Albeit it’s my fault that the ticket got cancelled since we were trapped in a traffic jam, since the start I have to be the one contacting the seller, so if you did not then they also won’t reach out to you. When we were there slightly late, I dropped him a text and he was online, but purposely only reply me long later to tell me tickets are cancelled and non-refundable. This is fine, but I would have appreciate the sellers to show initiative and also to respond quickly even if the tickets are cancelled, so that I know whether to quickly buy another pair on the spot. And when we entered at the 8pm show after buying tickets on the spot, we saw people entering 30 mins after it begin, so the original tickets could have been given to us and we will just be slightly late. Just buy the ticket on the spot, you won’t save anything from here anyways since the on the spot price is similar.
A great little piece of Vietnamese culture!
Compass32785198184,
Aug 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
It was a wonderful experience for the whole family. But make sure to book with Audio Guide, otherwise you only understand half!
Good but...
Robert M,
Aug 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00
Show was good but we couldn't get audio guides cos they were "out of stock". Whole thing was nice but gets boring very quickly when you can't understand a word.
Very poor delivery
Marc Y,
Aug 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00
The show itself was excellent. The booking on Viator was a complete disaster. I booked a few days before the show. When I arrived at the theatre to pick up my tickets, the representative had no record of it. I missed the show while she was trying to figure out what happened. Finally I got the tickets for the next day.