We were treated to a water puppet performance in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon). Water puppets apparently originated in the rice farming areas of Vietnam. During the break between harvesting one crop and planting the next, the villagers took to carving puppets and using them for telling stories.
The performance we saw was set to live music, and there were a total of 6 musicians playing traditional instruments.
I was particularly interested in the woman playing an instrument net that faintly resembled a dulcimer
The performance consisted of a series of vignettes – some of village life, some of mythical animals. In one sequence, the king appeared riding in a dragon boat, preceded by his attendants.
In another, an elderly gentlemen perched in his sampan sailed by fishing and smoking his cigar.
There was also a fearsome fish who chased people and other water creatures
and scared a cat up a tree!
And as the grand finale, there was a fire breathing dragon!
Great fun was had by all. Although there was no dialogue, we got all the jokes, laughed at the right times, and applauded enthusiastically at the end.
Posted 1/31/18 from Luang Prabang, Laos
Mary's Travel Blog 