Vietnam is the birthplace of the centuries-old art of water puppets, which emerged in the northern rice paddies as entertainment for farmers. "The puppets are pretty heavy... and the water also creates resistance," said puppeteer Nguyen Thu Hoai, who swapped her galoshes for flip-flops between sold-out shows. The shows at Hanoi's Thang Long theatre have become a staple on the well-trodden tourist circuit and draw thousands every week, including many first-time viewers. "I've never seen a puppet show that way with the water," American tourist Caroline Thomoff told AFP after a show. Despite its ancient roots -- or perhaps because of them -- the shows draw little attention from local Vietnamese viewers, especially millennials.

Source: Bangkok Post June 10, 2018 04:41 UTC