Thanks to its long-standing history and featured cultural characteristics, Vietnam is home to many cultural art shows. These shows help international tourists understand more about Vietnam and Vietnamese people’s lives. Let’s learn about the top 07 most amazing cultural and art performances in Vietnam with Handspan Travel Indochina!

Through this blog post, you will find detailed information about these shows below.

The Quintessence of Tonkin

• Show venue: Da Phuc Pagoda, Da Phuc Village, Sai Son Commune, Quoc Oai District, Hanoi
• Ticket fee: from VND 400,000 to VND 800,000
• Time: from 07.30 p.m. to 08.45 p.m.

The Quintessence of Tonkin show

The Quintessence of Tonkin is one of the cultural and art performances in Vietnam you should not miss. The Quintessence of Tonkin show (Tinh Hoa Bac Bo) is the first real scene show in Vietnam. The show's stage lies at the foot of the Thay Pagoda mountain. Let’s explore the show with us.

The idea of the show

The Quintessence of Tonkin show honors the history of the Northern Delta and preserves water puppetry culture. The entire play is performed on water. There are participations of indigenous farmers in Sai Son Commune and students from the Vietnam Academy of Dance. Passion and love along with technique have created a lively and attractive performance for the audience. A pavilion was meticulously built to resemble the Thuy Dinh in Thay Pagoda with a 1:1 ratio. Combined with a magical lake surface and bamboo clumps, the scene is really impressive.  

The Quintessence of Tonkin show

The story of the show

Watching the show, you will have a chance to learn about the old countryside of Northern Vietnam. Through the combination of lighting systems, sounds, music, voice, storytelling, and the performance of actors, and actresses, you can immerse yourself in ancient cultural life.

The Quintessence of Tonkin Show

The performance includes six parts, which are poetry, Buddha’s realm, nostalgia, music art, happiness, and festival. In the two first parts of the performance, you will catch up with images of young girls by the lotus pond, villagers working together, a mother lulling her child beside the cradle, a Venerable Zen master in the middle of a shimmering lotus garden, and a flock of dragonflies shown with LED and laser effects.

A Venerable Zen master in the middle of a shimmering lotus garden

In the next sections, you can admire a part of the scene of Vietnam's ancient exam hall. It is recreated on a water stage of more than 4,300 square meters. Then, you will see 4 girls performing different musical instruments in Vietnamese traditional music including flute, pipa, erhu, and lute, with graceful dances on the water surface. Besides, the Quintessence of Tonkin show also expresses the belief in worshiping Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms and Mother Godesses. At the end of the play, local festive activities and folk games are recreated.

4 girls performing different musical instruments

Overall, The Quintessence of Tonkin is among the most amazing cultural and art performances in Vietnam. Through mesmerizing choreography, traditional music, and captivating storytelling, this show transports audiences back in time to experience the essence of Tonkin – the cradle of Vietnamese culture.

Hoi An Memories

• Show venue: Hoi An Impression Theme Park, Hoi An Memories Land, 200 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Cam Nam Ward, Hoi An City, Quang An Province
• Ticket fee: from VND 600,000 to VND 1,200,000
• Time: from 08.00 p.m.

Hoi An Memories Show

Hoi An Memories show is also among the must-watch cultural and art performances in Vietnam. It is a unique outdoor art performance combining music, sound, light, dance, and memories. The show represents the history of Hoi An from the 16th century. It is Vietnam's largest real-life art performance with more than 500 actors with modern staging techniques.

Hoi An Memories Show

The show uses traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai as the main language to tell the story of Hoi An. It includes five performances with five different themes. Let’s explore each theme with us!

The first act: Life

The first act vividly recreated an overall picture of the customs and life of Hoi An local people in the past. It starts with the image of a girl weaving with grace and a gentle smile, and a stage full of lights with 100 girls wearing traditional Ao Dai. The life in Hoi An originates from labor, building houses, and catching seafood. Over time, the beauty of working and daily life was gradually incorporated into songs and dances and became the culture of the ancient Hoi An people. In the first part, these daily live activities will be reproduced.

The first act of the show

The second act: Wedding

This act is inspired by the wedding of Princess Huyen Tran and Champa King Che Man. You can admire many splendid images from the bride procession scene and costumes to beautiful wedding reception dances. Hundreds of actors portray Champa soldiers, performing energetic dances to welcome the bride in ornate and vibrantly colored attire. The wedding brings the meaning of Princess Huyen Tran's sacrifice for the peace of the Dai Viet people. 

The second act of the show

The third act: Lamp and Sea

This scene shows the love story of those onshore and those at sea. The nostalgia and faithful love of Lamp and Sea will bring the audience many wonderful emotions when watching. 

The third act of the show

The fourth act: Integration

This act brings you back to the 18th and 19th centuries of Hoi An. It is set at the extremely vibrant and bustling Hoi An international market. You will see many images of Western, Chinese, and Japanese ships constantly visiting.

The fifth act: Ao Dai

In the last part of the show, you can admire traditional Ao Dai performances combined with ancient architectural works associated with the land of Hoi An. In a modern sound and atmosphere space, the girls cycle along the light path, weaving through every corner of the old town, bringing tourists back to the modern life of Hoi An. 

The fifth act of the show

Generally, the Hoi An Memories show is one of the most fascinating cultural and art performances in Vietnam. If you want to learn about the culture of Hoi An, you definitely cannot miss this wonderful show. 

Teh Dar Show

• Show venue: HOI AN LUNE CENTER For the Performing Arts, 1A Nguyen Phuc Chu St., Hoi An Ancient Town, Hoi An, Quang Nam
• Ticket fee: from VND 700,000 to VND 1,600,000
• Time: from 06.00 p.m.

Teh Dar Show

Among the cultural and art performances in Vietnam, Teh Dar is also a show that you may not want to miss. Traveling to Hoi An, don't miss out on the opportunity to enjoy this show. Watching Teh Dar show, you can immerse yourself in the magnificent space of the Central Highlands of Vietnam, enjoy a unique 60-minute art performance program with fascinating bamboo circus performances, combined with enchanting sounds from the instrument, and listen to live music.

Teh Dar Show

The Goong instrument, recognized as a cultural heritage by UNESCO, has told the stories of wild animal hunting, tales of death and reincarnation, and romantic stories. Besides Goong, Ki Pah, drum, buffalo horn, T’rung, also contribute to the success of the show. These instruments play an important role in the spiritual life of the Central Highlands people. The name “Teh Dar” in the Kho ethnic group means “going in the circle” representing the belief in reincarnation and the circle of birth, aging, illness, death, and rebirth. With minimal sets, storytelling with light and music allows you to immerse yourself in a magical and enchanting theatrical atmosphere. 

Handspan guests and the Teh Dar show's artists

Overall, through rhythmic drumbeats, traditional chants, and acrobatic feats, this mesmerizing show celebrates the resilience and harmony of Vietnam's ethnic communities. Let’s enjoy the show and have your own experience!

A O Show

• Show venue: Saigon Opera House, 07 Cong Truong Lam Son, Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Ticket fee: from VND 800,000 to VND 1,750,000
• Time: from 06.00 p.m.

A O Show

Like other cultural and art performances in Vietnam, A O Show is also an amazing show that captivates the cultural values of Vietnam. It is a blend of circus and contemporary dance and other art forms, combined with bamboo and rattan props against the timbre of 17 types of traditional and modern musical instruments. Watching the show, you will be immersed in the contrasting yet harmonious picture of Vietnam between peaceful villages and bustling cities created by talented artists. The A O show is not just about “Ah!” and “Oh!” sounds expressing the surprise of the audience when enjoying the show. The name of the show also reminds audiences of the village and the cities, depicting the changes in human life from the countryside to the city. Let’s see how amazing the show is with us!

A O Show - Stories that are intimate and boldly Vietnamese

The show is like a a film about Vietnamese people in the transition period from a quiet and simple village life with plants, the sounds of frogs, insects, chickens and ducks, farming activities, and fishing to a modern, bustling lifestyle in the city. Skilled circus artists in brown village costumes, with bamboo props, fishing activities, familiar village natural sounds, etc., have recreated the life of Vietnamese people in the past. Then, when the urbanization process takes, there will be a contrast on stage. Watching the show, you will have a feeling of excitement and joy. 

A O Show

A clever combination of art subjects

The A O Show is a combination of different types of arts from acting to dancing, martial arts, circus, and acrobatics. With more than 60 minutes, the show will bring audiences with a classy, sophisticated party with many unforgettable emotions. Throughout the play, the actors'  movements match each other smoothly and perfectly.

A O Show

The sophistication in using props

The special thing about A O Show is that all props are made from bamboo. Bamboo is a symbol of Vietnamese villages, of resilience, toughness, and strength of solidarity. As for A O Show, bamboo represents the youth and endurance of the artist. 

A O Show

Great sound combination

Besides the ingenious performing arts of the artists and exquisite props, the A O show’s sound combination is also impressive. The artists perform live right on stage, using traditional ethnic musical instruments such as the moon lute, zither, bamboo flute, and mouth harp combined with modern, vibrant beatbox sounds, stirring up the space.

Generally, the show offers a modern twist on Vietnamese culture while paying homage to its rich artistic heritage. So, don’t miss out on the opportunity to enjoy the show!

Ao Dai Show

• Show venue: 1A Tran Van Dan Str, Ngu Hanh Son Dict, Danang City
• Ticket fee: VND 400,000
• Time: from 07.45 p.m.

Ao Dai Show is also among the cultural and art performances in Vietnam that you may want to spend time watching. The show aims to introduce tourists to the history of the formation and development of the traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai dating back nearly 300 years. The show includes seven performances: History of Vietnamese Dynasties, Royal Timbre, 300 Years of Ao Dai – Ancient Old Market, Vietnamese Traditional Wedding, Lotus Dance/ Lantern Dance, Ao Dai Vietnamese Schoolgirls Uniform, and Ao Dai Show. 

Ao Dai Show

After the MC introduces Vietnam through the periods of nation-building through images and narration, the Royal Timbre performance will introduce to the audience the splendid beauty of the King's Palace - Lord's Palace in Nguyen Dynasty royal costumes in the festival. This show conveys a realistic and impressive image of the beauty of royal brocade on the costumes of the King, Queen, and Mandarins of the Nguyen Dynasty during the feudal period, where the traditional Ao Dai of Vietnam was formed. During this performance, you can also admire the royal dances. In the next performance: 300 Years of Ao Dai – Ancient Old Market, artists will recreate the ancient market tableau of Vietnamese people in simple but elegant Ao Dai costumes in ancient folk culture of the late 18th to early 20th centuries. 

Ao Dai Show

Whereas, in the Vietnamese Traditional Wedding performance, an old wedding ceremony, honoring the religion and cultural beauty of the Vietnamese people will be vividly depicted. You will see the bride and groom in the “Nhat Binh Ao Dai” and “Ngu Than Ao Dai”. The lotus dance/ lantern dance is inspired by the beauty of the National Flower of Vietnam. The lotus is a symbol of purity, simplicity, and elegance. After the lotus dance, you will have a chance to see Vietnamese schoolgirls in the white Ao Dai and models performing Ao Dai collections of famous Vietnamese Ao Dai designers. 

Fishermen Show (Huyen Thoai Lang Chai)

• Show venue: Fishermen Show Theatre, 360 Nguyen Thong Street, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet
• Ticket fee: from VND 300,000 to VND 500,000
• Time: from 08.00 p.m.

Fishermen Show is also among the cultural and art performances in Vietnam that you may want to spend time watching. The show recreates the authentic life of the local people of the ancient fishing village of Phan Thiet, associated with the sea. Throughout 60 minutes of the show, you will encounter simple images of fishermen’s lives. They are the bustling fish market, men pushing baskets out to sea, pulling fishing nets, making salt, and making ceramic. The difficulties and harshness in the fishing village are also clearly shown. They highlight the optimism, resilience, and willingness to overcome all the difficulties of the fishermen.

The Fishermen Show

Besides, the Fishermen Show is also a vivid picture depicting the interference between the Kinh and Cham cultures in Phan Thiet. Unique festivals such as Cau Ngu with the cheerful chants of the Kinh people, and the colorful Kate ceremony of the Cham people are all vividly recreated on stage, allowing the audience to witness and learn more about the beauty of the beliefs of both Cham and Kinh people. 

The Fishermen Show

The show includes six parts with different images, events, and cultural beauties yet linked together extremely coherently and closely. With the main plot developed from the legendary Nam Hai general, Fishermen Show takes you through each chapter in turn. On the 600m2 4-storey water stage, the performance is spectacular and extremely satisfying. There is a series of beautiful effects and techniques such as smoke, high water columns, and magical space. Overall, through traditional music, dance, and storytelling, this evocative show offers a glimpse into the daily lives and age-old traditions of Vietnam's fishermen. So, don’t miss out on the opportunity to enjoy the show. 

The Quintessence of Vietnam (Tinh Hoa Vietnam)

• Show venue: Grand World, Phu Quoc United Center, Bai Dai, Ganh Dau, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
• Ticket fee: VND 300,000
• Time: 08.15 p.m.

The Quintessence of Vietnam show

Also on the list of the wonderful cultural and art performances in Vietnam, The Quintessence of Vietnam leads tourists to explore Vietnamese cultural identity. Watching the show, you can immerse yourself in the cultural stories of Vietnam. They are told through sublime performances, applying state-of-the-art technology and unique equipment: stage on the water, moving houses, zipline, 3D mapping with the most modern lighting, and sound effects. The show is extremely special and attractive to tourists because of these factors.

• The performance uses advanced technology with the largest scale in the country.
• The performance stage area is up to 11,200 square meters, with a rhythmic combination of more than 200 dancers.
• The show has high cultural and artistic value. It expresses Vietnamese traditional identity and beauty by recreating the bustling and lively scene of Thang Long in the past during the 300-minute performance.
• You can admire more than 20 architectural works, recreating cultural activities in ancient Vietnamese villages in the most realistic and vivid way

Generally, the Quintessence of Vietnam promises to leave unforgettable moments in your mind. You will be immersed in the space of ancient Vietnamese culture, recreated through extremely impressive performances. 

In conclusion, the cultural and art performances in Vietnam offer a kaleidoscopic journey through the country's rich heritage and traditions. No matter what the show you watch, you will have an opportunity to immerse yourself in the essence of Vietnam. So, come experience the magic and wonder of Vietnamese culture through these captivating performances.