

In addition to music, the use of light plays a significant role as well to highlight the dramatic parts making the performance even more interesting. The gestures of the puppets are very expressive and the music is executed perfectly in sync with the story and the singers even shout words of encouragement to which the puppets react sharply. Even though the language of delivery is Vietnamese, it is not hard to understand what is being conveyed on stage. The performances are enhanced by the use of music created with instruments like cymbals, drums, horns, single-stringed guitars, etc. The puppets are portrayed in many creative ways like boys riding on buffalos and dragons appearing suddenly from underwater. Water puppetry provides a great source of entertainment for both the young ones and elders alike and is a very unique thing to do in Vietnam. Water puppetry originated from North Vietnam in the 11th century, from the Red River Delta is one of the many traditions that are very close to the hearts of Vietnamese people back when Vietnam witnessed a lengthy period of peace and prosperity after the year 1010, people were motivated to relax more and organize festivals and performances that would later become the country’s traditions. Water Puppetry in Vietnam Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons

Mainly in the northern region of Vietnam, The art of puppetry flourished but it spread all over the country through the years. It is not just a great source of entertainment but also a form of art that needs extreme precision and tremendous practice. Water puppetry is exactly as it sounds – puppets dancing and moving along the water, controlled by the invisible hands of the puppet masters.

But the Vietnamese Art of Water Puppetry is something that is very unique and a culture of water puppetry integral to the Vietnamese people.

Puppetry has existed in many parts of the world for as long as 4000 years.
