Vietnam: Thang Long Water Puppet Show
Overview
Mobile ticket
The world-renowned Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi traces its origins to a traditional art form dating back to the 11th century. This unique practice began when flooded rice paddies became stages for village entertainment, where performers stood in waist-deep water to control puppets above the surface. Using long rods, the puppeteers remained hidden behind a screen, creating the illusion of the puppets gliding effortlessly across the water.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
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 service provider will send you a separate email with your actual ticket 24 hours before your travel date. This ticket will be the one recognized by the attraction. If you haven’t received it 24 hours before your visit, please reach out to GLOBALTIX on WhatsApp Message.
Same price applies to all ages
Re-entry is not allowed after exit
Show times are subject to change based on availability
Seating categories include VIP: A/B/C/D/E (Row 1-5), Deluxe: G/H/I/K/L/M/N/O (Row 6-13), and Standard: P/Q/R (Row 14-16)
Available showtimes are 16.10 17.20 18.30 and 20.00
Collect physical tickets at least 30 minutes before showtime
Arrive 10 minutes early and meet staff for audio guide assistance
Arrive early to secure better seating
No flash photography and no commercial filming or live streaming
Smoking and drinking are strictly prohibited inside the venue
The theatre is near Hoan Kiem Lake and easily accessible
Wear neat and respectful clothing suitable for indoor seating
Bring a light jacket as the theatre may be air-conditioned
No luggage storage and pets are not allowed inside
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 queues at the Water Puppet Theater with a service that includes your show ticket, available across multiple showtimes. Enjoy a captivating 50-minute live performance showcasing one of Vietnam’s most iconic and traditional art forms. Water puppetry is a uniquely Vietnamese tradition that originated over a thousand years ago in the Red River Delta. Originally, these performances depicted everyday village life, including farming, fishing, children’s games, and romance. Today, the shows also incorporate ancient legends and mythical stories, bringing Vietnam’s cultural heritage to life.
What‘s Included
Multilingual Audio Guide (if you choose Multilingual Audio Guide tickets)
Show program
All taxes, fees, and handling charges
Skip-the-line Thang Long Water Puppet Theater ticket
Personal Expenses
Meeting points
Thang Long Water Puppet
57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hanoi Vietnam
End points
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Options
VIP Ticket (1-5 Rows)
VIP Ticket (1-5 Rows)
Standard Ticket + Audio Guide
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.
Deluxe Ticket + Audio Guide
(6 - 10 Rows): Languages: Vietnamese, English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, French, German, Spanish.
Deluxe Ticket (6 - 10 Rows)
Deluxe Ticket (6 - 10 Rows)
Standard Ticket (Row 14 - 16)
Standard Ticket (Row 14 - 16)
Reviews
32 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
It was a short but...
RonaldVernon K,Mar 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00It was a short but interesting and enjoyable experience. Especially the different "strange" music instruments and their sounds were special. Also the unique way in which a story was told in the water was special for us. I recommend this show for a relaxing "break" from the busy streets and noise of Hanoi.
A must do when visiting Hanoi
ManindaWickramasingh,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I bought ticket online through Viator. The online ticket said de luxe category and I should sit anywhere between row 6 and 13. I was given a ticket by the agent on arrival at theatre and was shown a seat on row 15 which is a general category. I made a complaint to the travel co no reply yet. Not to take anything away from a unique event and performed by a globally recognised troop of performers. Definitely a must when visiting Hanoi.
Do not buy from Viator.
Brooke S,Feb 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00These 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
1.00I 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
4.00I 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
5.00Apparently, 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
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