Ha Long Traditional Arts Theater’s artists and musicians.

Set in a cozy space, the performances of chau van, a Vietnamese form of ritual singing, together with monochord solos and water puppet performances staged by the Ha Long Traditional Arts Theater have fully endeared themselves to the hearts of the audience.

Established two years ago, the Theater has become a prime destination for more than 1,000 visitors a day, often including foreigners.

Playing at 4.30, 5.30, and 7.30 p.m., the theater’s daily 40-minute shows recreate the picture of  village life of northern coastal residents. The combination of the sets, the Cheo (popular opera) singing, the love duets, the folk songs, monochord solos and water puppet shows have given foreign visitors a better understanding of the unique characteristics of  Vietnamese culture.

Li Jing from China’s Jiangxi province said: “The props, costumes, make-up, sound, lighting, and singing are all  great. I was most impressed by the water puppet show, because I wasn’t able to get a true impression of it at home. Seeing it in person was awesome.”

The nearly 40 actors and musicians of the Ha Long Traditional Arts Theater are  classically trained.

Water puppet shows leave a special impression on the audience, especially foreign visitors.

Pham Tien Doan, a young artist, said that  audience support is encouraging for him and the entire troupe as they move forward in their career, adding: “As an artist, I’m inspired by the audience reaction to the water puppet show. It’s my wish to share the beauty of traditional Vietnamese art forms with audiences both at home and abroad.”

Theater Director Duong Van Quy said his company is trying to reach out and connect with audiences, striving to deliver their best performances every time.

“What we aim for is the extension of traditional Vietnamese art forms. We have combined modern theater, traditional song, dance, and instruments, and water puppetry with Vietnamese, English and Chinese languages so that visitors can understand the content. Over the past  year, our performances have earned a big applause from visitors. We feel very proud  to act as a bridge to help them better understand  Vietnamese  culture,” said Quy.