10 Must-See Shows and Circuses in Vietnam

One of the best parts of traveling is getting a real taste of the local culture. In Vietnam, you don’t just see it in the food or the markets. You can also feel it on stage. From the famous water puppet shows to modern acrobatics and circus acts, these performances are a fun way to dive into the country’s traditions while spending a great night out with friends or family.

Vietnam has plenty of shows worth checking out, mixing incredible talent, music, and eye-catching effects that pull you right into the story. To make it easy, we’ve put together a list of the 9 best cultural shows in Vietnam that will make your trip even more memorable.

Làng Tôi (My Village Show): Northern Vietnam’s Village Life on Stage

Làng Tôi (My Village Show) is one of Vietnam’s most unique cultural performances. Blending contemporary circus with traditional art, it brings the peaceful daily life of northern villages onto the stage. Through acrobatics, folk songs, and live music performed on more than 20 traditional instruments, you’ll get a vivid glimpse of rural Vietnam in a way you won’t forget.

What makes this show special is its use of bamboo; the symbol of Vietnamese countryside life. Bamboo represents resilience, honesty, and strength, and in the show it becomes everything from houses and fishing baskets to stunning props for breathtaking acrobatic scenes.

📍 Where to see it: The show is staged 2 to 4 times a week at the Hanoi Opera House and the Vietnam Tuong Theatre.
🎟️ Ticket options:

• AAH!: 700,000 VND (~27 USD)

• OOH!: 1,150,000 VND (~44 USD)

• WOW!: 1,600,000 VND (~61 USD)

Tu Phu (Four Palaces Show): Mother Goddess Worship

The Tu Phu Show brings to life one of Vietnam’s most fascinating spiritual traditions: the worship of the Mother Goddesses. Dating back to the 16th century, this belief honors four deities of nature (sky, forest, water, and earth), and remains an important part of Vietnamese culture today.

On stage, rituals are turned into a vivid performance. Mediums dressed in colorful, elaborate costumes invite the spirits to possess them, then perform traditional folk dances in honor of the goddesses. Known as lên đồng, these ceremonies are believed to bring health, happiness, and good luck. With live music, chanting, and mesmerizing visuals, the show offers a rare glimpse into Vietnam’s spiritual world.

>>> Learn more about the Mother Goddess worship practice in Vietnam

📍 Where to see it: Cong Nhan Theater, 42 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

🕕 Schedule: Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

🎟️ Tickets:

• Type A: $12.95
• Type B: $10.50

Quintessence of Tonkin: A Cultural Masterpiece on Water

The Quintessence of Tonkin is one of Vietnam’s most impressive open-air shows. Performed on a massive outdoor stage that sits under a thin layer of water, the spectacle combines theater, music, and stunning light effects to recreate the spirit of the Red River Delta.

What makes this show special is the way it blends six key elements of Vietnamese culture: poetry, Buddhism, folk music and painting, village traditions, and festive celebrations. Dragon boats glide across the stage, water puppets come to life, and hundreds of performers create a moving story that celebrates both Vietnam’s past and its modern creativity.

📍 Where to see it: Da Phuc village, near Thay Pagoda (about 25 km from Hanoi)
🕢 Schedule: Every day, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
🎟️ Tickets:

• Silver: 800,000 VND (~32 USD)
• Gold: 900,000 VND (~36 USD)
• Platinum: 1,200,000 VND (~48 USD)

Water Puppet Show in Hanoi: A Living Cultural Heritage

Water puppetry (múa rối nước in Vietnamese) is one of Vietnam’s oldest art forms. It started back in the 11th century in the Red River Delta, when farmers built wooden puppets to entertain the village after harvest. People also believed the shows helped keep away bad spirits from their fields.

In today’s performances, painted wooden puppets splash, spin, and dance right on the water. Hidden behind a screen, the puppeteers use long bamboo rods to bring each story to life, with live traditional music adding to the atmosphere.

📍 Where to see it: The best place is the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater, right next to Hoan Kiem Lake. It’s the only spot in Hanoi with daily shows. Tickets go fast, so it’s smart to book ahead instead of waiting in line.

Ionah Show: Vietnam’s Own Cirque du Soleil

If you’ve heard of Cirque du Soleil, you’ll have an idea of what the Ionah Show is like. Blending dance, acrobatics, music, and 3D visual effects, this high-energy performance is often called Hanoi’s answer to the world-famous show. The name Ionah is actually “Hanoi” spelled backwards, and the production is just as playful as its title.

The story follows a young woman named Ionah on a journey through fear, hope, and wonder until she reaches a magical world filled with harmony and joy. The mix of light effects, music, and choreography keeps the audience hooked for the full 70 minutes.

📍 Where to see it: Star Galaxy Theatre, Ba Dinh District
🕒 Schedule: Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
🎟️ Tickets:

• First Class: 940,000 VND (~38 USD)
• Second Class: 700,000 VND (~28 USD)

Fisherman Show – Whale Worship in Central Vietnam

This original show shares the traditions of the Cham people in central Vietnam, especially their belief in whale worship. The story goes back to 1762, when a whale skeleton washed ashore in Mui Ne. Locals believed the whale’s spirit protected fishermen from danger, and they began honoring it at Van Thuy Tu Temple in Phan Thiet.

The Fisherman Show brings this legend to life with music, dance, and striking stage effects. Performed in Vietnam’s largest basket-boat theater, the production features flying sand dunes, water columns, real ox carts, and even a 22-meter whale skeleton.

📍 Where to see it: Lang Chai Theater, Mui Ne
🎟️ Tickets: 300,000–500,000 VND (~12–20 USD)

Hoi An Memories: Vietnam’s Largest Outdoor Stage

“Hoi An Memories” is the biggest open-air cultural performance in Vietnam. With over 500 artists on a 25,000 m² stage, the show blends music, dance, poetry, and modern lighting to retell 400 years of Hoi An’s history. From traditional Ao Dai to scenes of Hoi An’s golden age as a bustling port, every act is a visual spectacle.

📍 Where to see it: Hoi An Impression Theme Park, Cam Nam Island
🕒 Schedule: Nightly except Tuesday, 7:30–8:45 pm
🎟️ Tickets: Adults 600,000–900,000 VND (~24–36 USD) / Children 300,000–450,000 VND (~12–18 USD)

A O Show: Village Meets City

The “A O Show” combines acrobatics, dance, and bamboo artistry to depict Vietnam’s journey from rural life to urbanization. Expect stunning stunts, theatrical scenes, and live traditional music that capture the spirit of both countryside and city. Bamboo takes center stage, turning into everything from tools to props in this imaginative circus-style show.

📍 Where to see it: Saigon Opera House, Ho Chi Minh City
🕒 Duration: 1 hour
🎟️ Tickets: 700,000–1,600,000 VND (~28–65 USD)

Teh Dar: A Highland Tribal Circus

“Teh Dar” means “to make the circle” in an ethnic language of Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Inspired by tribal festivals and rituals, the show uses bamboo, acrobatics, and powerful music to share stories of life, culture, and identity in the Highlands. It’s both mysterious and breathtaking, connecting the past with the present.

📍 Where to see it: Saigon Opera House (HCMC) and Hoi An Moon Performing Arts Center
🎟️ Tickets:

• AAH!: 700,000 VND (~28 USD)
• OOH!: 1,150,000 VND (~46 USD)
• WOW!: 1,600,000 VND (~64 USD)

Gốm Show: Vietnamese Ceramic Art on Stage

The Gốm Show is a creative blend of dance, music, and visual effects that tells the story of Vietnam’s ancient pottery tradition. Using real pottery elements and modern stage design, the artists show how earth, fire, and water shape the country’s ceramic heritage. It’s a unique performance where tradition meets innovation.

📍 Where to see it: Cultural theaters in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
🎟️ Tickets: 500,000–1,200,000 VND (~20–48 USD)

Conclusion

These shows and circuses made in Vietnam are much more than simple plays. Beyond cultural performances, they awaken the Vietnamese people’s love for their roots — the rich Vietnamese culture. If you’re traveling to Vietnam, don’t hesitate to attend one of these breathtaking shows!

Be ready to feast your eyes!