Phu Tho Province Develops Water Puppetry Program to Serve Tourists

In response to the directives of the leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Phu Tho Province, on the morning of July 28, 2020, at the Thuy Dinh stage – part of the Historical Complex of Hung Kings Temple, the Provincial Art Troupe organized a water puppetry program to meet the cultural demands of the local people and international visitors who come to visit the Ancestral Land on various occasions.

From ancient times, water puppetry has been a unique traditional folk performing art that originated from the culture of wet rice cultivation. Evolving from a folk art form, water puppetry has become a traditional art, a special creation of the Vietnamese people, showcasing the intelligence and ingenuity of humans. It is also one of the precious human cultural resources for the development of the tourism industry. With the determination to build this program from the provincial leadership and the leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, along with the dedication and efforts of the leadership and performers of the Provincial Art Troupe, substantial investments were made in the stage, water puppets, sound, lighting, etc. The performers were professionally trained in both expertise and guidance to evoke interesting emotions through this unique folk art form, aiming to serve the local community and tourists from all over the country.

In the near future, when tourists visit Phu Tho – the land of the Vietnamese ancestors, besides participating in programs such as City Tours, paying respects through the practice of worshiping the Hung Kings, and enjoying Xoan singing – the intangible cultural heritage representative of humanity, they will also experience various exciting water puppetry performances deeply rooted in the cultural characteristics of the Ancestral Land. These performances include traditional acts such as Tieu giao tro (Puppeteers and their Puppets), Dragon Dance, Plowing, Catching Frogs, Hunting Ducks, Phoenix Dance, and Eight Fairy Dance.

The water puppetry program presentation at the Historical Complex of Hung Kings Temple received high praise from the leaders of various units and the local community. Tourists visiting and paying respects at the Historical Complex of Hung Kings Temple will have the opportunity to enjoy the outstanding water puppetry program performed by the dedicated artists and performers of the Provincial Art Troupe of Phu Tho. Undoubtedly, the water puppetry show of Phu Tho Province will become one of the new and interesting tourism products in the cultural and folk art activities in the Land of the Ancestors, serving the local people, domestic tourists, and international visitors coming to Phu Tho.