Culture - Sports

Hanoi Amateur Water Puppetry Festival to take place in late April

The Hanoi Amateur Water Puppet Festival 2023 will be held in late April and early May, aiming at preserving Vietnam’s unique intangible heritage and meeting the public’s demand, according to the municipal Department of Culture and Sports.
Hanoi Amateur Water Puppetry Festival to take place in late April ảnh 1Illustrative image. (Photo: tuoitrethudo.com.vn)

Hanoi (VNA) - The Hanoi Amateur Water Puppet Festival 2023 will be held in late April and early May, aiming at preserving Vietnam’s unique intangible heritage and meeting the public’s demand, according to the municipal Department of Culture and Sports.

The festival, which will take place at thuy dinh (communal house on the water with decorations typical of northern Vietnamese villages) stage area at the Cultural Centre of Hanoi, is part of activities to celebrate the National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day.

Folk puppet artisans and non-professional members of traditional water puppet troupes from all around Hanoi will join in a single water puppet show, which lasts for at least 25 minutes.

Each performance puppet show contest should re-enact glorious historical events of the nation; present the daily life and work of Vietnamese people; and promote the cultural value of Vietnam.

The event offers an opportunity for water puppet troupes to exchange experiences in traditional art performances.

Water puppetry originated in the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam around the 10th century, where almost all towns and villages have communal ponds, which were used as the puppet show stage.

Thach That and Dao Thuc villages in Hanoi and Rach and Nguyen Xa villages in the nearby provinces of Nam Dinh and Thai Binh are some of the earliest known centres of water puppetry.

Traditionally, water puppetry performances portray the daily life of Vietnamese farmers (cultivating, tending buffalo, and catching fish), communal entertainment (swimming races and dragon dancing), or historical legends (like Le Loi returning the precious sword to the Golden Turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake) appealing to audiences for centuries./.

VNA
#Hanoi Amateur Water Puppet Festival 2023 #water puppetry #troupes #artisans #Vietnam Plus #Vietnam News Agency Ha Noi
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Tours of coffee shops along Hanoi train street prohibited

Tours of coffee shops along Hanoi train street prohibited

In lieu of the dangerous train traffic at the site, the Hanoi Department of Tourism said on April 4 that it has asked businesses offering tourism and transport services in the city not to launch tours of the train street, a popular destination for many foreign visitors.
Hanoi deals with shortage of public recreational spaces

Hanoi deals with shortage of public recreational spaces

The lack of public and recreational spaces for residents has always been an urgent issue and has been discussed for many years in the capital city of Hanoi. However, changes to Hanoi's urban landscape may soon be on the horizon.

See more

Glass beads, gold-coloured metal beads and leaf-shaped objects uncovered in the tombs. (Photo: VNA)

Archaeologists uncover artefacts in two 1,500-year-old tombs

Based on their structure, construction techniques and unearthed artefacts, the two tombs are identified as brick-built burial chambers. Such tombs, commonly known as brick tombs or Han tombs, were relatively widespread in areas along major rivers and waterways, including the Luc Dau, Bach Dang, Y Bich and Lam river systems, which served as important links between settlements and the sea.

A performance staged by Colombian dancers at the artistic exchange in Hoi An town, Da Nang city, on September 16, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Artistic exchange helps foster Vietnam-Colombia friendship

Co-organised by the Embassy of Colombia, the Da Nang Department of Foreign Affairs, the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Centre, the programme contributed to strengthening cultural exchanges, connecting young people and promoting friendship between the two countries.

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana at the prayer ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Thai King, Queen visit Quan Su pagoda for prayer ceremony

The King and Queen offered candles and flowers, after which monks and Buddhists chanted prayers for their peace and well-being, and deeper progress in the Vietnam-Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as well, timed to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

An artisan from Bat Trang Village demonstrates part of the ceramic making process. (Photo: baovanhoa.vn)

Hanoi's old streets and crafts available at Temple of Literature

Inspired by the streetscapes and their architecture, traditional craft streets and daily life of ancient Thang Long, the programme presents images and historical artefacts of Hanoi’s historic '36 Streets' while offering hands-on workshops with traditional craftspeople. It unfolds the story of a Hanoi rich in history and culture, yet dynamic and constantly evolving amid modern life.

Vietnam sports delegation embarks on ASIAD 20 (Photo: baochinhphu)

Vietnamese sports delegation departs for ASIAD 20

Vietnamese teams are travelling to Japan in separate groups according to their competition schedules. Shooting, karate and sepak takraw are among the teams carrying high expectations after winning gold medals at ASIAD 19. The Vietnamese delegation is targeting at least four gold medals at ASIAD 20.

Members of the organisers set off fireworks to open the Asialicious Carnival 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam leaves strong imprint at Asian cultural festival in Canada

Vietnam’s presence at the event was highlighted through artistic performances and activities promoting Vietnamese tea and coffee. The song “Viet Nam trong toi la” (Vietnam in me) conveyed to Canadian audiences a message of national pride and the beauty of Vietnam and its people.

The “Brilliant Vietnam” Cultural Festival, held from June 26–28 in Prague, Czech Republic, attracts a large number of overseas Vietnamese. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

Great National Unity Festival to be held abroad for first time

The festival aims to promote the traditions of the VFF, affirm the value of the great national unity bloc, and strengthen ties between Vietnamese communities abroad and the homeland. It is also intended to foster patriotism and national pride, encourage the preservation of the Vietnamese language and cultural identity, and inspire overseas Vietnamese (OVs) to contribute to national development.

Saxophonist Quyen Van Minh is the brand ambassador of Hanoi Jazztival 2026. (Photo courtesy of the artist)

Hanoi Jazztival 2026 seeks to expand space for Vietnamese jazz

A festival of this scale can provide more performance opportunities while enabling Vietnamese and international musicians and artists from different generations to meet, learn and connect. It can also bring jazz closer to audiences who may regard it as difficult to appreciate or suited only to a niche audience.