Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre presents water puppet souvenirs for Phan Thị Thanh Tâm, the spouse of President Võ Văn Thưởng and Elke Büdenbender, the spouse of the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Đức

HÀ NỘI — Phan Thị Thanh Tâm, the spouse of President Võ Văn Thưởng and Elke Büdenbender, the spouse of the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier enjoyed a traditional water puppetry performance at Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hà Nội's Hoàn Kiếm District on Tuesday afternoon.

The two first ladies immersed themselves in a diverse array of performances featuring iconic characters, dynamic dragon dances, and serene depictions of rural life of Việt Nam.

Water puppetry, originating in the Red River Delta of northern Việt Nam, finds its inspiration in the region's hot and humid climate and abundant water bodies. The natural aquatic stages, such as ponds and lakes in nearly every village, serve as platforms for water puppet performances, predominantly featuring scenes reflecting rural landscapes, bamboo trees, and traditional activities like fishing and rice cultivation.

Expressing their admiration for the performance and the talent of the artists who immersed themselves in water to manipulate the puppets, both ladies extended heartfelt wishes to the artists, encouraging them to sustain their passion for the art and preserve the distinctive essence of Vietnamese water puppetry.

To gain a deeper understanding of the art and the work of the artists, the two ladies visited behind-the-scenes area and talked with the artists, officials and staff of the theatre. — VNS

The two first ladies watched the water puppet performance. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Đức