Water Puppets

Having read a lot of good things about the traditional water puppet shows, we decided to splash out the $8 it cost and head down to Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre, Saigon's most popular display.

We were greeted by a metre-deep pool of water, back dropped by a Vietnamese pagoda.Either side of the scene sat three musicians, surrounded by traditional instruments. As the curtain drew, the music kicked in - as did the wistful wail of Vietnamese song.A small puppet appeared from behind the scene, splashing around the murky waters. The singing stopped and all six musicians began to add dialect to accompany the puppetry. It is fair to say that the show holds no storyline though. Instead they prefer to work through classical themes such as fishing, boating, and folklore.There is no English at all through the show, but there really is no need and if anything, it would spoil it.The beautifully crafted puppets - from dragons to villagers, birds to fish - are more than enough as entertainment. The real beauty however lies in how all of this is performed.

The show dates back to the 11th century, having originated from the flooded rice paddies of the Red River Delta in Northern Vietnam.Puppeteers would perform not only to entertain themselves, but also to entertain the spirits - in the belief that by keeping them occupied they would cause no hassle to the local families.The secret behind how such a magical display is performed is closely guarded - and has been for hundreds of years. What is known is that the entire show is played out blind - with the puppeteers working from beneath the water's surface. They must act on instinct rather than sight to ensure everything works, and looks correct. It is obvious to say, but it is incredible.The whole show is choreographed to perfection, and you really do become gripped by what you are witnessing.

At the end of the show we were also treated to an appearance from the eight puppeteers that had spent the past fifty minutes buried deep beneath the water's surface. Dripping wet, and smiles beaming, they waved us off and brought an end to the show.