Puppet show «Rối Show» at CADAO Collective

   Water puppets share the stage with shadow puppets, and folk tales play out to a live band and singers: at a new cultural space near West Lake (Hồ Tây), Vietnamese water puppetry is being told in a new way. If you have already seen a classic water puppet show, this one looks and sounds different.

   «Rối Show» is performed by Phường rối Tây Hồ, the Tay Ho Puppet Guild, introduced as the sixth puppet guild in Hanoi's inner districts. The stage is a thủy đình, a water pavilion built entirely by hand, mixing traditional architecture with minimalist contemporary design. The music blends folk melodies with new compositions, played live and interactively. The program changes every month under the guidance of Meritorious Artists Chu Luong (Chu Lượng), former director of the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, and director Bui Quang Van (Bùi Quang Vân), together with artisans from traditional puppet guilds.

   «We combined water puppets with shadow puppets and more contemporary music to create a way of performing that has never existed before», says Ta Trung Dung (Tạ Trung Dũng), artistic director and head of the Tay Ho Puppet Guild.

   CADAO Collective opened in July 2026 under the motto «New Taste of Heritage — Phong vị mới của di sản». Its three floors are named Làng, Phố and Nhà — Village, Street and Home: water puppetry in the Village, cocoa, tea, local coffee and an open kitchen making handmade chocolate on the Street floor, and ca trù and xẩm singing upstairs in the Home.

   It suits anyone curious about how an old art form gets along with contemporary music, and anyone who wants to do more than watch: after the performances, audiences can talk with the artisans.

   «Rối Show» runs on Friday and Saturday evenings; on other days there is no show, just drinks and bánh mì. CADAO Collective publishes its schedule month by month. Besides the show ticket there are a show-and-dinner package and a Full Hanoi Experience package. CADAO Collective posts the schedule and prices on its Facebook page.

   Start the evening at the Village's water stage, and if you have time, head upstairs afterwards for ca trù or xẩm.