At exactly 3:00 p.m. on February 13 (the 4th day of the Lunar New Year), a group of foreign tourists arrived at Thai Binh River to visit Thanh Hai Water Puppetry Troupe as scheduled. The group consisted of 30 people from England, Canada, France, Australia, etc. who came to Vietnam for tourism. During that journey, the Thanh Hai Water Puppetry Troupe was the first trip away from Hanoi by foreign tourists.
Ms. Christine, a British woman, said she came to Vietnam on the eve of the 30th of Tet, celebrated the traditional New Year with her friends, then visited some places in Hanoi , but the Thanh Hai water puppetry troupe was the farthest trip from the capital city. "I really like the performances, the water puppeteers are wonderful," Ms. Christine happily said.
In the afternoon, the puppet troupe performed 7 plays including: Tieu Giao Dau, Fishing for Frogs, Dragon Burning Bodhi Leaves, Going to Plant Rice, Buffalo Fighting... The plays are close to the countryside, daily life and agricultural production of Vietnamese rural people. Besides foreign tourists, the performance attracted many local people to watch.
Every year, Thanh Hai Water Puppetry Troupe welcomes about 20 foreign delegations. In 2023, there were many improvements when many schools brought students to visit and experience the art of water puppetry. Mr. Pham Khac Xoa, Head of Thanh Hai Water Puppetry Troupe, said that in recent years, the troupe has connected with many schools in the province to attract students to watch the performances and introduce the traditional art of the locality.
“When there are foreign visitors, I often contact Thanh Hai Primary and Secondary School so that English teachers and students can spend time interacting with visitors. That is also the way we are gradually bringing the art of water puppetry closer to today’s youth,” said Mr. Xoa.
Thanh Hai water puppetry has existed for over 300 years. Previously, the plays were only performed by a few old artisans in the village and were a hobby for a few people. In 1999, a number of water puppet lovers in An Liet village gathered to restore this traditional craft. At first, there were only 20 people, but now there are 29 people participating in the water puppetry troupe.
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