The world-renowned Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi traces its origins to a traditional art form dating back to the 11th century. This unique practice began when flooded rice paddies became stages for village entertainment, where performers stood in waist-deep water to control puppets above the surface. Using long rods, the puppeteers remained hidden behind a screen, creating the illusion of the puppets gliding effortlessly across the water.
