Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater, Ho Chi Minh City: Address, Phone Number, Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater Reviews: 4/5
Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater
Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater
4
About
Generations ago, Vietnamese puppeteers performed for their rural communities in waist-deep water, bringing to life legends and stories about their region. Water puppetry theaters like Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater continue that tradition into the modern day and are a fun, family-friendly way to experience a hallmark of traditional Vietnamese culture.water puppet show, which is closely associated with the spiritual life of Vietnamese people, especially in the countryside. The show’s chosen stage is the surface of a water pool. The puppeteers present their clever skills in managing puppets by long bamboo rods and string mechanism under the surface. A traditional Vietnamese orchestra is an excellent music accompaniment. The puppets depict the story from the songs during the show, which reflects the peaceful life of the Vietnamese countryside, so it is not too difficult to understand it.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1,600 reviews
Excellent
668
Very good
632
Average
221
Poor
48
Terrible
31
Davethepubsinger
Tenerife, Spain248 contributions
Feb 2021
My wife and I were staying in a hotel near by in Feb2020 and obtained our tickets by going to the box office the day before the performance. We paid £10 for our tickets. We were allocated seats in the third row. On arrival we were greeted by ushers dressed in traditional silk tunics who escorted us to our seats. The theatre quickly filled up, but it was annoying that they let people in after the performance had started. The shows are performed entirely in Vietnamese but the plots are easy to understand. There was a programme given out with printed explanatory notes in English. An orchestra was positioned either side of the stage and played traditional instruments to accompany the puppets dancing across the water stage. The shows recount Vietnamese folk tales, legends, and significant seasonal events, like the celebration of the rice harvest, which were depicted in a humorous fashion.
The Puppets are an amazing variety of weird and wonderful creatures, animals and even insects which dance in the water. We found the theatre to be clean and cool. The show was excellently choreographed and lasted about an hour. It was well worth the money and I would recommend it for all ages.
The Puppets are an amazing variety of weird and wonderful creatures, animals and even insects which dance in the water. We found the theatre to be clean and cool. The show was excellently choreographed and lasted about an hour. It was well worth the money and I would recommend it for all ages.
Written June 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Alexandra S
31 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
I went to see the water puppet show since everyone talks about it and it was indeed quite nice. I regret not being able to sit where I wanted even if I bought my ticket well in advance and arrived first. The tour guides have all the best spots and I had to sit at the last raw paying the same price as everyone...
maybe it's a better deal to take a group tour and combine it with another activity, I'm not sure.
The ticket was 270 000 VD and the show lasts for about 40-45 minutes. The neighborhood is also quite nice to visit if you have a bit of time to wait after buying a ticket.
maybe it's a better deal to take a group tour and combine it with another activity, I'm not sure.
The ticket was 270 000 VD and the show lasts for about 40-45 minutes. The neighborhood is also quite nice to visit if you have a bit of time to wait after buying a ticket.
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Mike D
London, UK72 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Theatre is centrally located so popped in to the booking office on Tuesday lunchtime to buy tickets for that nights 6.30 show. VND 270,000 each. Theatre was a reasonable size with semi-comfortable seat and pretty effective air con. This type of show has being going on for a thousand years apparently. Obviously the narrative is in Vietnamese so didn't really understand what was going on but it was nice to hear the traditional music and singing. Still not sure how the puppeteers did their thing but it was all very clever. A 45 minute show was just about right.
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
DGGmo
London, UK402 contributions
Dec 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed my trip to this theatre to see the traditional Water Puppets show. It is walking distance (10 mins) from the War Remnants museum and was a great pick-me-up after four hours learning about the terrible events and impact of the American War.
There are a couple of showings each day - at 5 and 6pm when I visited but probably subject to change, and you can buy your ticket direct at the box office (cash only).
The show lasted about 35 minutes and was in Vietnamese, with the singers playing the instruments too. An ancient art in Vietnam, the stories are easy to follow and very entertaining.
There are a couple of showings each day - at 5 and 6pm when I visited but probably subject to change, and you can buy your ticket direct at the box office (cash only).
The show lasted about 35 minutes and was in Vietnamese, with the singers playing the instruments too. An ancient art in Vietnam, the stories are easy to follow and very entertaining.
Written October 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Joel K
Vancouver, Canada3,160 contributions
Nov 2019
Water puppetry has been going since 1200 years BCE in Vietnam. The stories that the puppets tell are many - farm life, harvesting rice, battles on the sea. Half of the puppeteers body is underwater behind a set. They operate the puppets with poles under the water. A very interesting and creative show.
Written April 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
JennieCV
Liverpool31 contributions
Feb 2020
This is an enchanting experience. I went in a bit skeptical not expecting much, but I really enjoyed it. It is puppets in water, telling stories of life in villages in years gone by. It has humour and skill and great musicians who seemed to love every minute.
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Seth L
Colorado Springs, CO131 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
I heard about water puppets from the tourism guides and videos I consumed, so I decided to go with my buddy to watch a show, and I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised. Water puppets are a traditional Vietnamese form of entertainment where puppeteers control their puppets using underwater poles. I though they were controlled by robots at first, but when I realized that it was all manual labor, I was impressed by how well they maintained the illusion. About the show itself, it was all in Vietnamese, but the stories were pretty easy to follow, the performances were very funny, and the traditional music gave the performances a nice folkloric flair. Even from simply watching one of the performances, I felt I leanred a lot about the traditional Vietnamese culture. Do me a favor; do not leave Vietnam until you've gone to at least one performance!
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Karin P
Potchefstroom, South Africa34 contributions
Feb 2020
It is so important that cultural treasures like this theatre form, get preserved and appreciated. Especially when they remain entertaining. The puppet show is skillful and clever, with an enthusiastic and authentic cast who keep visitors entertained despite language barriers. This is a must-do for cultural tourists to the city and any theatre enthusiast.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Utepil
Vuorela, Finland336 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Tradional Vietnamese culture. "Not seeing water puppet show, not seeing Vietnam ". Amazing how they can syncronize the movements of many puppets with music. Hard work for the "actors", they are standing 40 minutes in water. Recommendable destination.
Written February 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
T0232c
Armagh, UK39 contributions
Mar 2020
I went to this show with a very reluctant husband. After 10 minutes he said this is quite good and the end he said thar was really good. From a rugby action and practical guy that’s a compliment. I really enjoyed this show, di not understand a word but the story was enchanting. 45 minutes of enjoyment, book you won’t be disappointed.
Written March 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Rolando N
Melbourne, Australia
What time are the shows?
Travelbug291
Bribie Island, Australia918 contributions
Hi Rolando, currently the times are 3.oo pm, 4.10 pm, 5.20 pm, 6.30 pm, 8 pm. The shows go for approximately 50 minutes.They can vary at times, so it is wise to check with the theatre before attending. You can book and pay for your tickets online. Be aware you cannot use a camera flash to take pictures. You can purchase a pass however to use your camera in the theatre which isnt eastpy to get good photos due to the low lighting during the show. Be aware also, much of the seating is quite steep in case there are mobility issues.
Are there daily shows. Will there be a performance today 5/10 and at what times?
Ramanathan M
31 contributions
Their website claims to have 4 daily shows . All in the evenings . First show is at 16.30. Last at 20.30.
Thang Long Water Puppet Show
peter h
Folkestone, UK24 contributions
Is it the same price adults as children?
Ramanathan M
31 contributions
My visit to this puppet show was through a tour agency and it also combined a river cruse dinner. We were all adults. But from my travel experience , tour prices for children below 12 years of age will normally and certainly be a lower rate.
I believe it will be the same here too.
Charlotte H
saint-etienne2 contributions
Bonjour, comment peut on acheter cette attraction ? Où faut il acheter les billets ? Peut on réserver par telephone, où est le numero ? Merci
anthony d
Lyon, France301 contributions
Hanoi ou Saigon ? Les billets s'achetent au guichet à l'entrée, il y a plus de monde à Hanoi au bord du lac qu'à Saigon à cette maison de la culture. Bonne soirée
yenchen311
Penang Island, Malaysia3 contributions
How much is the ticket price?
Summer G
Denver, CO191 contributions
We paid 400,000 dong for two people.
Reshma S
1 contribution
How can I pre book the tickets for the Golden Dragon Water Puppet show
WH_Liang
Penang, Malaysia113 contributions
In my case I walked there and luckily I was on time for the show at 5pm. So I bought at the ticket counter VD200k. As per brochure: show time 5pm 6.30pm and 7.45pm (daytime performances according to your agreement). I think many authorized tour companies and hotel around HCM are offering the service including transport. There is also package with dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions about Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater
- Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost $19.51, while a popular guided tour starts around $51.15 per person. See all 19 Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
- Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater tickets are known to sell out fast, and same-day tickets may not be available. We recommend booking e-tickets tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 19 Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater:
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- Restaurants near Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater:
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