(VNF) - National Geographic Travel, a magazine published by the National Geographic Society in the U.S., recently broadcasted a short clip introducing the thousand-year-old Vietnamese water puppetry.

A water puppet show depicts the daily activities in Vietnamese rural life as well as important historical events and ancient legends. (Photo: Internet)

This video clip features puppet chú Tễu (or Uncle Teu, represented for a young, healthy and poor farmer), who guides the audience through the introduction of the origin, performance styles and popularity of Vietnamese water puppetry.

According to National Geographic Travel report, water puppetry is a typical form of Vietnamese art, which has existed for more than 1,000 years—and a quintessential experience if you're visiting this beautiful country.

Seeing a show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is one of the classic highlights of Hanoi, an absolute must-do. The theatre is just across the road that wraps around the north shore of Lake Hoan Kiem, on the edge of the Old Quarter. The show lasts 45 minutes and runs several times throughout the day, though it’s so popular you may have to book a day or two in advance.

True to name, the puppets splash around on their stage – a square pool of waist-deep water – rather than dangle above it. The puppeteers are hidden behind a screen, and manoeuvre their characters using bamboo rods. The scenes are based on Vietnamese legends and are accompanied by live folk musicians and singers.

The whole thing is remarkably impressive and utterly charming. Once the show is over, look out for a counter selling lacquerware replicas of the puppets from the show – they make great souvenirs and the prices are very reasonable.

The water puppets have their own names, which represents for their characters in real life, such as: Uncle Teu (represented for a young, healthy and poor farmer), Dragons (represented for Vietnamese spirits), Fairies, Fox, Ducks, etc. (Photo: Internet)

In the past, water puppetry once served for the King’s family and ancient Vietnamese aristocracy amusement. Until the 11^th century, it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. Nowadays, water puppetry is widely performed in big modern theaters or in some special stages for conservation and preservation Vietnamese traditions.

It is one of Vietnamese tradition that referred to Vietnamese traditions by means of water puppets, like daily life of Vietnamese farmers (cultivating, tending buffalo, catching fishes…), communal entertainment (swimming contest, dragon dancing…), or historical legends. It tells of daily living in rural Vietnam and Vietnamese folk tales that are told by grandparents to their grandchildren.

If you’re visiting big cities in Vietnam, you can buy tickets, then enjoy water puppetry in some big theatres, such as Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi, The Vietnam Puppetry Theatre, Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre in Saigon, etc.

National Geographic Traveler is a magazine published by the National Geographic Society in the United States. It was launched in 1984. Local-language editions of National Geographic Traveler are published in Armenia, Belgium/the Netherlands, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Latin America, Israel, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia and Spain. A UK edition launched in December 2010./.

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