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 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.
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 (6 - 10 Rows)
Deluxe Ticket (6 - 10 Rows)
VIP Ticket + Audio Guide
(1-5 Rows): Languages: Vietnamese, English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, French, German, Spanish.
Standard Ticket (Row 14 - 16)
Standard Ticket (Row 14 - 16)
VIP Ticket (1-5 Rows)
VIP Ticket (1-5 Rows)
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.
Reviews
26 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Unique Entertainment
FyingKiwi,,Jan 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Apparently, 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
2.00Chaos! 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
3.00The 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
5.00Wonderful! 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
5.00Exceptional 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
1.00Please 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
Disappointing and not worth it
joannelariviere6009,,Dec 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Do not buy online, it is nonrefundable and it doesn’t matter if you have reserved VIP. They sell paper tickets at the ticket booth and will sell in person even if they sold out online. I went with VIP online tickets and they said they sold out for the entire day and would not give me a ticket. Disappointing and not worth it This is not a skip the line event, you still join a very long queue. When we finally got to speak someone we were made to wait longer until after the show had started. Given our VIP tickets to then be told at the door we couldn’t enter, the show was sold out. Because we were unable to come back they seperated our group of 4 and we had to sit in the cheap seats and had missed a third of the show.
Busy and boring
sharonjesper,,Nov 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Tourist spot at very busy time and location with crowd of tourists queuing up. This show is overrated as such i have high expectations but unfortunately it quite boring.
Water puppet show
Ambassador818592,,Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00The puppets didn‘t look as great as there were discribed. The movements were absolutly disapointing. I could also have done this. If I were you I would not spend your time and watch it. There are better atractives to do in Hanoi. We had been booked on by our tour Which I hadn't noticed until the last minute otherwise would have asked not to attend. It is literally puppets in a small pond with traditional singing for an hour !
Tourist Trap
Passenger818468,,Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Not entertaining, I would say it's a tourist trap just to get you pay for some puppet show. I would not recommend it, save your money and buy ice cream instead .Boring, weird and honestly overpriced. Appreciate it's local art and culture but it's tacky and touristy. No English translation either.
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