A stone stele in Dai village in the northern province of Ha Nam keeps the detailed description of a water puppetry show held to mark the birthday of King Ly Nhan Tong in on August 3, 1121. Amazingly, all the scenes and characters in that ancient performance, such as a golden turtle spraying water or fairies performing the dance “Whirlwind”, can still be seen in today’s water puppetry.

Folklorists maintain that water puppetry has its origins in Vietnamese rural culture, and has been passed down from generation to generation. Foreigners consider this art form as part of Vietnam’s cultural unique and rich cultural traditions.

A Thai student studying the Vietnamese language and culture said that water puppetry represents the cultural identity of wet rice cultivation areas in Vietnam. In a broader sense, it summarises and shows the origin of Vietnamese culture, he said.

Farmers in Red River Delta devised the entertainment using what natural medium they could find in their environment. A village pond or a small pool in front of the communal house is turned into a stage, while the puppets are carved from the ubiquitous fig and jackfruit trees. The puppeteers stand behind a curtain and control the puppets through a pole-and-string apparatus concealed by the water.

A water puppetry show often starts with a display of fireworks against a cacophony of drums, cymbals and horns, plus assorted enthusiastic noises from the audience. Chu Teu, the narrator with a plump body and a humorous smile, introduces the show and takes the audience to the Vietnamese village space and fairy tales.  Mythical animals like the dragon and unicorn come across the glittering stage, dancing and spraying water and fire, while the images of the buffalos and farmers, which symbolise Vietnam’s agricultural life, bring the audience to a peaceful state of the mind. Water puppetry shows honour farmers’ industriousness and optimism, and criticise bad behaviors and practices in society.

Water puppetry has been preserved and further developed in both rural and urban areas. There are now 13 water puppetry troupes in Vietnam. Le Van Ngo from the Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre, which is promoting the art to the foreign communities, said: “Our performances have received a lot of praise from foreign audiences. They really admire this distinctive art.”

From a rural entertainment, water puppetry has now become popular in and outside Vietnam as an ambassador of peace.