Phu Quoc unveils first on-beach puppet theatre in Vietnam

The Vietnamese puppet art programme "Tray Hoi Mua Xuan" (Spring Celebration) is a free 30-minute show to be performed daily from 7:30 p.m. at Sunset Town Beach from February 15 (Source: Sun Group)

Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnamese puppet art programme "Tray HoiMua Xuan" (Spring Celebration) is taking place in Sunset Town, Phu Quoc,aiming to showcase Vietnam's intangible cultural heritage to both domestic andforeign tourists.

"Tray Hoi Mua Xuan" is a free 30-minute show to be performed dailyfrom 7:30 p.m. at Sunset Town Beach from February 15.

After each show, visitors have a chance to experience puppetry, chat with eliteartists, and learn more about this type of stage performance art.

The programme is invested in by Sun Group, directly produced by People's ArtistNguyen Tien Dung, Director of Vietnam Puppet Theatre, and performed by VietnamPuppet Theatre, one of the largest and leading puppetry art centres in Vietnam.

Vietnam dragon puppet with the Kiss Bridge - a new icon of Phu Quoc Island (Source: Sun Group)

The eight-part performance tells the story of the productive working life andbeliefs of Vietnamese people, bringing viewers into the flow of Vietnameseculture, discovering the beauty of the spring festival, the working life ofrice farming, as well as spiritual culture and Vietnamese beliefs.

There is also the appearance of a quai thao hat metaphorically resemblingmoonlight or a boat on water.

The puppet show in Phu Quoc is an intersection between tradition andcontemporary art, creating a new but still close and familiar experience forthe audience.

Nguyen Tien Dung said the festival combines many different types of art andperformances, such as land puppetry, water puppetry, and dance art.

As for the music, the audience will also listen to “cheo” singing and “chauvan” singing.

A special highlight lies in the final performance, "Hello Vietnam,"with new harmonies using the flute, and gourd and drums. These traditionalmusical instruments will be combined with the ao dai dance and conical hats.

Tray Hoi Mua Xuan" is performed for the first time at a water pavilion on the beach in Vietnam. (Photo courtesy of Vietnam Puppet Theatre)

One of the things that makes "Tray Hoi Mua Xuan" unique is the waterpavilion that simulates Thay Pagoda. This is the most ancient pagoda in Hanoiand the founding stage of Vietnamese water puppetry.

The architectural and artistic relics of the Ly Dynasty promise to be ahighlight in the poetic picture Hoang Hon Town.

"Tray Hoi Mua Xuan" is performed for the first time at a water pavilion on the beach in Vietnam. (Photo courtesy of Vietnam Puppet Theatre)

Before Phu Quoc, artists at the Vietnam Water Puppet Theatre brought thisVietnamese intangible cultural heritage to 70 countries and territories aroundthe world.

The Vietnamese puppet art programme "Tray Hoi Mua Xuan" (Spring Celebration) is held in Sunset Town, Phu Quoc (Source: Sun Group)

People’s Artist Dung said that from the first conversations, they felt inharmony with Sun Group. Both sides desired to bring traditional culture intotourism.

He and the artists at the theatre were happy to perform in Sunset Town, whichgathers many other art forms with many international tourists.

"We can introduce the age-old theatre art to tourists so that allnationalities and ages can learn more about the country and people of Vietnam.In particular, we Vietnamese people also understand more about the value oftraditional cultural arts and are proud of our international friends,"Dung said.

Sunset Town brings together high-class art shows such as "Kiss of the Sea" combined with nightly artistic fireworks performances (Source: Sun Group)

The puppet performances, along with other unique art shows at themulti-million-dollar entertainment complex in Sunset Town, help visitorsincrease their experience, contributing to honouring and bringing backtraditional values and bringing Vietnamese culture closer to the world./.

VNA