“My dream of seeing a water puppet show has come true”

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In front of the Thang Long water puppet theatre, Elena Belova, 69, from Moscow, was over the moon. She had longed to see the water puppet shows for 35 years. On July 27, his dream finally came true.

Elena is a lecturer at a Moscow university. She welcomed the first Vietnamese students to the former USSR in the late 1980s. To better understand them, she researched documents on Vietnamese culture and learned about water puppets. Lacquer puppets and traditional Vietnamese music always “danced” in her mind.

“As soon as I started to take an interest in them, I wanted to see them with my own eyes. Vietnamese water puppets are truly unique“, explained Elena.

More than 30 years have passed. Former Vietnamese students who came to work in Russia after the COVID-19 outbreak went to their former teacher and invited her and her niece to come to Vietnam.

After visiting the central provinces, Elena traveled to Hanoi where she bought a ticket for the water puppet show. Although she is not used to the hot and humid summer weather, she does not feel tired. “I didn’t come to Vietnam to sit under an air conditioner, but to discover the country, so that’s fine“, she said.

The show began, images she had only seen on television and in books flashed vividly before her astounded eyes. Elena was caught up in the music. “The artist sings very well. Everything is so beautiful… The content is easy to understand and suitable for foreign visitors. There are humorous moments, everyone laughs and finds it interesting“, she commented. “I’m so happy that my dream has come true. Anything can happen to who knows how to wait“, Elena said.

During her ten-day trip to Vietnam, she visited many landmarks, partly because she enjoyed learning in depth about history and culture. The most impressive place in his eyes was the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam, Vietnam’s first university. “I feel your pride to be here. A very typical building in Vietnam“, she said.

Elena returned to her home country after exploring all of Vietnam. She didn’t forget to buy a conical hat and a lantern as souvenirs. She carefully kept her ticket for the water puppet show so that each time she opens it, it will immerse her in this magical moment.