Located right next to Hoan Kiem Lake is the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. Water Puppetry is a unique experience that can trace its roots back to the 11th century in Vietnam when rice paddies were flooded and used as a stage for puppet shows. The puppets appear as if they are floating across the water.

We pre-purchased our tickets online; they were delivered directly to our hotel. We opted for seats at the front of the theater so we could better enjoy the show. We had read that the puppets are fairly small so we thought it would be worthwhile to pay for the “good” seats. We ended up in row 2 and were happy with our decision.

The show only lasts 50 minutes and is divided into 17 short acts. It is accompanied by live music – singers and musicians. The puppets are colorful and marvelous to watch. This was a fun activity and something unique to Hanoi; definitely worth a visit.