Water puppetry performances began in the World Cultural Heritage Site of Hoi An Ancient Town on a weekly basis as from October 2, adding a new attraction to both tourists and local people.
The performances will be staged from 18:30 every Friday and Saturday at Hoi An Theatre at No. 548 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hoi An Town in the central province of Quang Nam. Shows can also be organised on demand. Ticket prices range from 80,000 VND (3.6 USD) for adults to 40,000 VND (1.8 USD) for children.
Besides familiar shows of the daily life of Vietnamese farmers including cultivating crops, tending to buffaloes, catching fish or historical legends, the city has also created various performances which feature special local characteristics such as Apsara dances and humming-top stories.
Vice Chairman of the Hoi An City People’s Committee Nguyen Van Son said tourism development has brought numerous opportunities to introduce and disseminate art-cultural genres to both domestic and foreign visitors.
Water puppetry dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the Red River Delta of northern Viet Nam. Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppetry tradition.