First launched in 2008, the Vietnam Festival in Tokyo has become a major cultural exchange event between Vietnam and Japan. Participation in this year’s festival aims to strengthen cultural and artistic exchanges with international friends while promoting traditional puppetry and the image of Hanoi to international visitors.

According to the schedule, the delegation will set up the stage and rehearse on May 29 before taking part in the opening ceremony and other performances on May 30 and 31. The troupe will return to Hanoi on June 2.

The programme consists of two main parts: traditional water puppetry and a variety arts programme. The 30-minute water puppetry segment features signature performances including Tễu giáo trò (Teu’s Introduction), Múa rồng (Dragon Dance), Em bé chăn trâu thổi sáo (The Buffalo Boy Playing the Flute), Cấy, cày, tát nước (Rice Planting, Ploughing and Water Scooping), Câu ếch (Catching Frogs), Câu đánh bắt cá (Fishing), Nhi đồng hí thủy (Children Playing in Water), Múa phượng (Phoenix Dance) and Múa tứ linh (Dance of the Four Sacred Creatures).

Through these performances, Vietnamese water puppetry recreates the working life, daily activities, beliefs and folk imagination of communities in the Red River Delta, with characters such as Teu, buffalo boys and farmers alongside traditional symbols including dragons, phoenixes and the four sacred creatures.

Additionally, the 50-minute variety arts programme features performances highlighting Hanoi’s cultural identity through folk music, xẩm folk singing, chầu văn spiritual singing and traditional Vietnamese music, alongside Japanese musical performances aimed at strengthening cultural exchange with local audiences.

The selection of performances shows efforts to present a culturally rich image of Hanoi, from the beauty of its streets and seasonal flowers to the depth of folk music and traditional performing arts. In particular, the Japanese music ensemble performance adds a cultural exchange element, expressing respect for local culture and a desire to connect with Japanese audiences through art.

With years of experience performing for international visitors, the Thang Long Puppet Theatre is well placed to convey Vietnamese folk stories through imagery, music and stage rhythms. Despite limited dialogue, water puppetry can still connect with audiences from different linguistic backgrounds thanks to its vivid visual style, lively performance rhythms and warm, lively spirit.

The performances in Japan add cultural colour to the 18th Vietnam Festival while further highlighting the role of the Thang Long Puppet Theatre as one of Hanoi’s signature cultural institutions in international cultural exchange.

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