Thang Long Water Puppet Tickets Hanoi: Skip the Line

Wooden puppets dance across water to the sound of a traditional orchestra.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater entrance tickets in Hanoi's Old Quarter skip the line at the door and seat you for a one-hour show where puppets perform stories of agricultural harvests with a Vietnamese orchestra playing live traditional songs. All fees and taxes are included. You choose between Standard, Deluxe or VIP First Class seating at checkout.

Options for this experience

3 options

From US$ 8.28 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Standard Class Show 6 departure times: the first at 15:00, the last at 21:15 Seating in rows N through R, lasting 1 hour

Deluxe Class Show 6 departure times: the first at 15:00, the last at 21:15 Seating in rows H, I, K, L and M, lasting 55 minutes

First Class VIP show 6 departure times: the first at 15:00, the last at 21:15 Seating in rows A through E and G, lasting 55 minutes

None of these options right for you? See 2 alternatives ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Attend Thang Long Water Puppet Show

• Enter Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
• Enjoy traditional water puppet performance
• Experience Vietnamese orchestra music
• Visit Hoan Kiem Lake nearby

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. Hanoi Old Quarter 5m
2. Hoan Kiem Lake 10m

What’s included

• Skip-the-line entry to Thang Long Water Puppet Theater.
• one-hour performance with live Vietnamese orchestra.
• all fees and taxes.

Times

• Every day 15:00 16:10 17:20 18:30 20:00 21:15

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Up to 30

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. 1 with pickup ›

Book up to Start time

Ages Adult (3 to 75 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds No refund if you cancel.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Stroller-friendly Infant seats available Pets welcome Public transport nearby Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Asia Travel Legend

Prices and times updated today

Traveler reviews

4.58 ★★★★★ Excellent 71 verified traveler reviews 70% rated it 5 stars

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The experience

Water puppetry is a centuries-old Vietnamese art form, and Thang Long Theater is where it still happens nightly. The puppets are carved wood, operated by puppeteers standing waist-deep in a pool behind a silk curtain, and they move to accompany stories rooted in rural life: harvests, fishing, village celebrations. A Vietnamese orchestra plays live throughout, performing traditional songs that match each scene. Skip-the-line entry means you walk straight in instead of queuing at the box office, and the theater sits in Hanoi's Old Quarter near Hoan Kiem Lake, walkable from most central hotels.

The show runs about an hour and includes all fees and taxes in the ticket price. You'll pick your seating class when you book (Standard, Deluxe or VIP First Class), which determines where you sit in the theater but doesn't change the performance itself. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and infants can sit on an adult's lap or use a specialized infant seat if needed. Public transportation options are nearby, and all areas of the theater are accessible.

Top questions

How long is the water puppet show at Thang Long Theater?

The show runs for one hour. It's a single continuous performance with no intermission, so plan for about 60 minutes from start to finish.

What stories do the water puppets perform?

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater performs stories centered on agricultural harvests and rural Vietnamese village life: fishing, farming celebrations, and traditional daily activities. A live Vietnamese orchestra accompanies each scene with traditional songs.

Do I need to arrive early if I have skip-the-line tickets?

Skip-the-line entry means you bypass the queue at the box office and go straight in, so you don't need to arrive as early as standard ticket holders. Arrive with enough time to find your seat before the show begins, usually 10–15 minutes before curtain.

What's the difference between Standard, Deluxe and VIP First Class seating?

The three seating options differ in location and view of the stage. Standard Class seats are further back; Deluxe Class offers a better vantage point; VIP First Class provides the closest view. All three watch the same performance.

Is the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes, the theater is fully wheelchair accessible. All areas and surfaces are accessible, and transportation options nearby are wheelchair accessible as well.

Can I bring a baby or small child to the water puppet show?

Yes. Infants and small children can attend. Infants must sit on an adult's lap or can use a specialized infant seat if available. Strollers and prams are also allowed in the theater.