Twelve countries to join International Puppetry Festival in Vietnam

Twelve international art troupes and five Vietnamese puppetry troupes will attend the 2nd International Puppetry Festival in Hanoi from September 4-9.
Deputy Head of the Performing Arts Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourim Vuong Duy Bien said the festival will be one of many activities to celebrate Hanoi’s 1,000th anniversary.
This event will promote Vietnam’s puppetry arts to an international audience and offer an opportunity for Vietnamese puppetry artists to exchange experiences and absorb the essence of puppetry.
The winning troupe is expected to receive a gold cup worth US$1,000. Silver and bronze cups as well as prizes for the best director, best painter, and best actor will be presented.
The opening ceremony will take place at the Hanoi Opera House on September 4. The Vietnam Puppetry Theatre will perform two items, entitled “Thang Long Spirit” and “Ugly Baby Duck”.
Some puppetry shows that have performed successfully in many overseas countries will be introduced at the festival. These shows will include Malaysia’s shadow puppetry, Israel’s combined puppetry, and Indonesia’s Behind the Actors troupe.
The judging panel will comprise three foreign and two Vietnamese members, who are all top experts in puppetry.