Vietnam: Thang Long Water Puppet Show

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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 To Expect

1

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

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 points

Thang Long Water Puppet

57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hanoi Vietnam

End points

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Options

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.

Standard Ticket + Audio Guide

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

Standard Ticket (Row 14 - 16)

Standard Ticket (Row 14 - 16)

Deluxe Ticket (6 - 10 Rows)

Deluxe Ticket (6 - 10 Rows)

VIP Ticket (1-5 Rows)

VIP Ticket (1-5 Rows)

Reviews

3.16

31 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

13
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4
1
11
  • Great puppet water puppet show.

    andywilson2610,,Feb 21, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Very good, and expertly delivered

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  • Do not buy from Viator.

    Brooke S,,Feb 17, 2026

    - Review from Viator

    1.00

    These tickets are sold at locations for $3, Viator hikes up the price saying that you don’t have to stand in line and are secured a row 6-10. We were in the last row from the top after paying 4x the price.

  • I waited until last...

    Christelle K,,Feb 14, 2026

    - Review from Viator

    1.00

    I waited until last minute to get my actual tickets. We were 5 but were not seated together as a family and our seats were not placed well. I recommend to buy the tickets directly on the spot from the cashier of the puppet show . it is much MUCH cheaper ( 100,000-150,000 and 200,000VND) but you need to go in advance to secure your ticket as i can be fully booked.

  • Allow yourself plenty of time to get to the show. It's worth it.

    Margaret M,,Feb 12, 2026

    - Review from Viator

    4.00

    I really enjoyed the puppet show, the singing and music. We made sure to buy audio guides so we could understand what was being depicted. It was easy to find the theatre, but a bit of a run around to get the actual tickets in exchange for the Viator voucher. Still, we had plenty of time to find the ticket office and then return for the show. Hanoi is very far from the cruise port, so getting to the city was the biggest challenge because we could only find one limousine from the port in the morning and only one option to return (by a different tour provider) after the show.

  • Unique Entertainment

    FyingKiwi,,Jan 11, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Apparently, a Hanoi specialty, a water puppet show is an exceedingly entertaining must see. Not only is it incredibly entertaining, but it also offers those attending an opportunity to learn something about Asian culture and folk stories.

  • Chaotic entry for a unique puppet show

    css2026,,Jan 4, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    2.00

    Chaos! We purchased the tickets online more than 24 hours before the scheduled show. We reached the venue 1 hour before schedule and we were told by the theater stafff at the door that we had nothing to worry since we had already purchased our tickets and we could skip the line. We asked for seat assignment (online purchase doesn't allow seat selection just section or tier reservation) and we were told that we would be assigned seats for our tier once we're inside the theater. When we arrived 45 minutes later, expecting to be seated inside the theater in the tier 1 seating area (closest to the water stage), there was a line of people with tickets in hand. We tried to find the same staff we had spoken to earlier, but there seemed to have been a shift change. The new staff were busy ushering out guests from the earlier show and were unable or unwilling to help us with our reservation. It was unprofessional and total mismanagement. We were asked to stand in line and handed tier 2 tickets instead after waiting for another 30 minutes as utter chaos unfolded around us (the line morphed into a stream of people entering the theater). Once inside, we located our seats in the middle of the theater, which wasn't too far from the stage (the space is small compared to standard theaters), although our original tier had closer seating. By the way, the show is in Vietnamese without any translation, but it is quite unique and represents an integral part of Vietnamese folklore. Language is a huge hindrance for non-Vietnamese and the staff don't seem to want to change that despite the record number of expats that flock the theater.

  • No audio guide

    Warren F,,Jan 2, 2026

    - Review from Viator

    3.00

    The puppet show would be enjoyable with an audio guide which we booked but on arrival were told that they had run out.

  • Wonderful....

    harel,,Dec 17, 2025

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    Wonderful! What interested me most was the curiosity of what happens behind the scenes and how it is done with such precision, more than the plot, which is unnecessary to take the audio for it. Warmly recommend but check the prices because even thru viator the same activity has different prices.

  • Brilliant show

    PROBAL R,,Dec 4, 2025

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    Exceptional show, one of a kind. It is a must do, when visiting Vietnam. Foreigners should take an audio guide as the entire show is in Vietnamese language

  • Totally avoidable this operator

    esmeemaaike,,Dec 4, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    1.00

    Please avoid unless into cultural show. You don’t undertaand anything as it’s in local language. Totally avoidable. My kids left from between We paid for the VIP tickets and upon arrival they put us in the middle of the regular rows. The difference in price between our seating and the amount paid was alot money

From SGD 7.42