Hanoi to Host International Puppetry Festival 2024
	Water Puppet Show To Be The Highlight of Vietnam Day in Brazil

Artist Phan Thanh Liem on tour in Brazil.

Artist Phan Thanh Liem is a distinctive figure in the world of water puppetry. He works as a performer, puppet maker, program producer, and handles all logistics. He is the only artist in Vietnam who owns and has created two miniature water puppet pavilions, located in Hanoi. These pavilions not only host international delegations for performances but also offer opportunities to interact with artists, learn about puppetry, and explore Vietnamese water puppetry's rich traditions.

In mid-November, Liem participated in "Vietnam Day in Brazil," a cultural event held in Rio de Janeiro from November 15 to 17 as part of the "Vietnam Day Abroad 2024" initiative. This event, themed "Convergence of the Quintessence of a Thousand Years - Rising in the New Era," was organized by the Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its goal was to promote Vietnam's image, culture, and people to international audiences, fostering deeper relationships and mutual understanding.

Although Liem has performed in numerous countries, this was his first performance in South America. Despite the challenges and considerable effort required, he meticulously prepared for this trip, ensuring every detail was perfect.

The roof tiles of the stage, adorned with gold paint, two dragons, and the word "Tho," were meticulously glued in place by Phan Thanh Liem's entire family, who stayed up all night to complete the task. "The audience really enjoyed the stage with its quintessential Vietnamese village imagery, featuring a water pavilion and a banyan tree. They were constantly taking pictures," he recalled.

Phan Thanh Liem and his mini water pavilion.

Phan Thanh Liem handled all the logistics himself. He carefully chose a canvas that was both durable and lightweight for easy transportation over long distances. After purchasing it, he installed and tested the canvas to ensure it met the performance standards. His efforts to minimize risks and ensure everything was in order reduced the stage's weight from 150kg to 100kg.

Although the tour was challenging and involved his longest flight ever, Phan Thanh Liem was elated by the joy and excitement of the Brazilian audience. "The audience came in large numbers, with some people returning to watch multiple times. After the show, they stayed to take pictures, interact with the artists, and even try controlling the puppets themselves. They had never seen an art form like this and were amazed that I was in the water to control the puppets. I had to demonstrate it in front of their eyes for them to believe it," he said.

"There were Vietnamese women in Brazil who had not seen their homeland in a long time. They brought their families to watch the performances multiple times, interact with the artists, and talk about Vietnam. I regret not having more opportunities to go on tours like this. For artists like us who pursue traditional art, the enthusiasm of audiences at home and abroad is always a great motivation to keep our profession and nurture our passion," he said.

Artist Phan Thanh Liem is the 7th generation in a family with a tradition of performing water puppetry. His father, artist Phan Van Ngai, created the Mobile Water Pavilion used by water puppet theaters and the image of "Chu Teu" displayed at the Louvre Museum in France.

In addition to promoting traditional water puppetry in Vietnam, Liem has toured around the world, with the wish to share the beauty of Vietnamese water puppetry globally and help people appreciate the values of traditional art.

Ambassadors, Diplomatic Spouses Participate in Visit to Hai Duong Province The delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diplomatic Corps visited a kindergarten in Thanh Khe commune, Hai Duong province, bringing gifts.

Vietnamese Water Puppet Integrates with Global Culture In 2022, for the first time, the Vietnam Puppet Theater will participate in the Vietnam - Warsaw Cultural Festival held by the Vietnamese community in ...