The event saw various performances by 12 international art troupes and five Vietnamese puppetry troupes, featuring the cultural identities of different regions.

Deputy head of the Performing Arts Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vuong Duy Bien, who is also head of the festival’s organising board, said the event was a special gift to celebrate the 1,000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

During the festival, which will last until September 9, Vietnamese and foreign artists will perform at many venues, including the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre, the Military Theatre, the Kim Ma popular opera theatre and Hong Ha theatre.

Audiences will have the chance to see different kinds of puppetry, including water puppetry, and hand, mask and stick puppetry.