Watch Water Puppetry in Saigon

Understanding and watching water puppet shows in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is one of the must-do activities when visiting the most bustling city in Vietnam.

Watch-water-puppet-show-ho-chi-minh-city-saigon-vietnam-1

Overview of Water puppetry in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

The Golden Dragon Water Puppetry Theatre and Villa Song Saigon are the two most popular attractions in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to view a water puppet play, which originated in the soggy rice paddies of North Vietnam's Red River Delta (formerly Thao Dien Village). Visitors are captivated by puppets playing on a "stage" of water, accompanied by real old-fashioned music played on actual instruments, which depicts the culture, customs, and folklore of Vietnamese life.

The shows are entirely in Vietnamese, which isn't an issue for tourists because the puppet gestures are clear enough to keep the audience captivated. As the people-styled puppets, dragons, fairies, and other ornamental characters dance across the stage, the musicians are frequently positioned to one side of the stage, adding sound effects and songs.

Watch-water-puppet-show-ho-chi-minh-city-saigon-vietnam-1

Highlights from Water Puppet Shows

An innovative weekly water puppet show is presented while you dine on Vietnamese food at Villa Song Saigon's Ngon Restaurant. There are tales of myth and magic interspersed with plenty of laughter, just as in other water puppet shows. Performances are normally held on a four-metre-square water stage with highly talented puppeteers disguised behind a painted bamboo screen. Long rods are used to manipulate the brilliantly colored and intricately carved wooden puppets.

The Golden Dragon Water Puppetry Theatre is located within Tao Dan Park and offers twice-daily shows. However, it is recommended that you book ahead of time because this is a popular attraction for both residents and tourists.

Both venues provide a fascinating peek into this old Vietnamese art form, which has received numerous accolades throughout the world. The secret of the puppets' seemingly effortless movements is still jealously guarded, as it has been for decades.

Watch-water-puppet-show-ho-chi-minh-city-saigon-vietnam-1

The Golden Dragon Water Puppetry Theatre is a theatre dedicated to water puppetry.

The Golden Dragon Water Puppetry Theatre is located at the City Labour Cultural House in Tao Dan Park, at 55B Nguyen Thi Ming Khai Street. Daily show timings are 18:30 and 20:30, with shows lasting 50 minutes.

Because the theatre is small and has limited seating, tickets for performances at The Golden Dragon should be purchased in advance via a tour operator to avoid disappointment.

Shows with water puppets

Every Saturday at the Ngon Vietnamese Restaurant, Villa Song Saigon (previously Thao Dien Village) has a weekly water puppet presentation. The village is located on Nguyen Van Huong in District 2, and the show starts at 19:30 and ends at 20:00.

See more

  • Tasting special food in Ninh Binh

    Tasting local notorious specialties is a must-do while you are in Ninh Binh, such as: goat meat in lemon juice ( de tai chanh ) , scorched rice ( com chay...

  • Challenge yourself with River Rafting

    Not only will you be able to participate in water activities on the beaches in Nha Trang, but you will also be able to raft down the river. River rafting is an intense...

  • Going on a motorcycle tour

    In Vietnam, going on a motorcycle excursion is definitely an interesting choice and in Ninh Binh is no exception. You'll learn about Ninh Binh's backroads and gain a...

  • Visit Ponagar Sacred Tower

    About 2 kilometers from the city center of Nha Trang, Po Nagar Towers is a place of worship for Cham, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Buddhist worshippers. It's similar to Hoi...

  • Visit ancient Khmer pagodas

    The ancient temples in southern Vietnam are worth a visit if tourists want to learn about the beautiful cultural and religious beauty of the Mekong Delta. Vinh Trang pagoda...

  • Visit a French Cafe in Hanoi

    The gastronomy, which is the best aspect of the French influence, has persisted in Hanoi. I love that in Hanoi, you can have a bowl of Pho while also treating yourself to a...

  • Indulge Hanoi Street Food

    Hanoi is known for not only having a variety of gorgeous, breathtaking, cultural, and historical sights, but also for having a variety of unique and delectable street food...

  • Go Fishing in Nha Trang

    Nha Trang features several islands and islets, rivers, ponds, and lakes, making it an ideal fishing destination. Some people go fishing in a community-run fishing area, while...

  • Contemplate the Beauty of Notre Dame Cathedral

    Contemplate the beauty of Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica ( formerly Saigon Church ) , which is a very interesting activity for any tourist when visiting Saigon. The...

  • Explore Tra Su Indigo Forest

    Tra Su Cajuput forest is a fantastic spot to go exploring in the outdoors, with a wide variety of plants and fauna. It has long been a popular tourist destination in Chau Doc...

Booking with confidence

1
Best Value
Customer's satisfaction is the biggest goal and inspiration in our career. We always try our best to deliver as much pleasure as possible to every tourist...
2
Best Price Guarantee
At Viet Leading Travel™, We are confident to ensure the best and cannot-be-better price for you. Please take a look at our Best Price Guarantee policy
3
Best Local Support
We are local people, We are always here to support you 24/7 - ready to listen and arrange everything as your desire. Surely, you will feel satisfactory!
4
Certificate of Excellence 2015
We are proud to be 2015 winner and awarded the Certificate of Excellence 2015 by Tripadvisor

Join to get special offers & great promotions

Enter your email to quickly get Great Promotion Code, Special offers, Hot deals, and Huge discounts. Don't miss out!
“Great service from start to finish”
" With initial contact to help touring remote aspects in Northern Vietnam, Viet Leading Travel is the most professional, skilled and personable. The driver has been very experienced together..."
Susan , Australia
“Viet Leading Travel is the very best!”
" Viet Leading Travel is the most effective travel company we now have ever used within a lifetime of holiday. From the start we knew people were in skilled hands. The staff caused us regularly to..."
BobAbroad , Austria
“Fun In Vietnam, WOW!”
" The guides were the highlight in the trip, and this is saying something! This trip has been so well thought and perfectly adjusted to accommodate our holiday together with group. It was some sort..."
David , Armenia