Puppetry heritage through the eyes of British visitors in Ho Chi Minh City

At the end of a working day, I enjoy afternoon tea in a green space hidden in the heart of the city, learning about the traditional art of Vietnamese water puppetry.

I am Emily Alva - a Vietnamese-British girl, currently living in Ho Chi Minh City. Born and raised in England, my family and I moved to Vietnam when I was 10 years old. My appearance often makes others think I am a "Western girl", but my ability to speak Vietnamese fluently and my passion for Vietnamese culture has always helped me connect strongly with my mother's homeland.

As an actor and freelance model, in my free time, I am always looking for new experiences - not only to enrich my life but also to understand more deeply this city - the place that nurtured me throughout my growing up years.

After finishing work, I decided to give myself a very special afternoon, filled with flavors, lights and colors of art - all blending together like a summer symphony in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

The afternoon begins with tea at BARSON - a bar with an outdoor terrace with a tropical feel.

Coming here, I felt like I was lost in a European garden in the heart of the city, surrounded by green trees, creating a break from the hustle and bustle of life out there.

The French-style afternoon tea set with the theme Au Soleil - meaning "Under the Sun". I tasted each colorful and cute cake one by one, and was really conquered by the salmon cream cheese tart and the shrimp tart mixed with mustard mayo sauce.

The salty, slightly fatty taste of cream cheese blends with the fresh, sweet taste of seafood to create a very enjoyable feeling. However, the smoked salmon is a bit salty, which may not be suitable for diners who are used to eating bland food.

Leaving the shop when the afternoon sun had faded, we walked to Ba Son Bridge - one of the new iconic structures of Ho Chi Minh City. This is a place I especially love when I want to watch the city transform from day to night under the sunset.

The last rays of the day cast a golden glow over the skyscrapers, and in the distance were billowing pink clouds, making me feel like I was in the middle of a summer movie. Compared to the gloomy rainy days, I always love the typical hot sun of Ho Chi Minh City because it makes me more energetic, living every moment to the fullest.

When the street lights started to come on, we went to the Golden Dragon Theatre to watch water puppetry - a traditional art form that I have always been curious about but have not had the opportunity to experience directly.

Water puppetry is an intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam, which originated more than 10 centuries ago. I have seen water puppetry on TV before, but this is the first time I have seen it live, the feeling is exciting and hard to describe.

I thought it would be a light show, but unexpectedly I was drawn into a colorful and lively world to the point of forgetting the time. Entering the theater, I was quite surprised to see the auditorium almost full of people even though it was midweek, most of whom were tourists of all nationalities and many young Vietnamese people.

I am very happy to see that the art of water puppetry - after more than 1,000 years of existence and development - is still loved and welcomed by many people and tourists.

For 45 minutes, I felt like I was lost in a vivid world where wooden puppets were "breathed into life", dancing and interacting vividly.

Each performance is a short story, selected from more than 400 folk tales, such as: Teu giao tro, the buffalo boy playing the flute, fox hunting and duck catching, boat racing festival, lion dance, or the reenactment of the legend of Le Loi returning the sword.

The puppets' movements are very flexible and rhythmic, each movement and gesture is in sync with the music - performed live by the musicians in the troupe.

The performances followed one another, and in the blink of an eye, 45 minutes passed quickly with 16 plays vividly recreated, thanks to the smooth combination of puppetry techniques, sound and light.

The show ended when the artists in traditional folk costumes walked onto the stage, receiving thunderous applause from the audience.

I learned that puppeteers have to stand behind a curtain, soak in cold water - especially in an air-conditioned space like a theater - to control puppets weighing dozens of kilograms with limited vision. Yet they still make the puppets "come to life", dance to the music, perform as if they have souls.

The moment Dragon - Linh - Quy - Phung appeared together, spinning and breathing fire, creating a brilliant, vivid image like a traditional festival reenacted right before my eyes. This was not just an art performance, but a short journey, bringing me back to the old, beloved Vietnamese culture.

Many people often say that Ho Chi Minh City has nothing new to discover , but for me, this city always has a way of surprising people. In just a few hours, I experienced a truly brilliant summer day - from the flavors of the afternoon tea set, to the romantic sunset by the river and ending with children's laughter and deep emotions after the water puppet show.

Source: https://znews.vn/di-san-mua-roi-qua-goc-nhin-khach-anh-o-tphcm-post1556957.html