Rach Village is celebrated as one of the birthplaces of traditional water puppetry, a unique form of Vietnamese folk art that has thrived for over two centuries. Here, the performances are not merely entertainment—they are the soul of the village, a living narrative handed down from ancestors of bygone days.
The Rach Village Water Puppetry Guild was founded in 1755 by its patriarch, Mai Van Kha, under the original name Nam Chan Puppetry Guild. Despite the passage of time and many upheavals, the guild has preserved more than 40 traditional plays such as buffalo fighting, swing games, fire-breathing dragons, and the “Lady of the Highlands.” Each performance vividly reflects the agricultural roots and everyday life of the ancient Vietnamese countryside.
The guild’s stage is the village pond, covering over 2,000 m², where water pavilion (Thuy dinh) is built. Behind a bamboo screen, the puppeteers skillfully maneuver intricately carved wooden puppets using poles and strings, creating surprisingly lifelike movements. These scenes are enriched by the sounds of traditional instruments such as drums, gongs, flutes, and the two-string fiddle (dan nhi), drawing audiences into a charming, almost fairy-tale world.
What makes Rach Village special is that its artisans not only perform but also craft the puppets themselves. Most are carved from sung wood—a lightweight, easily sculpted material that withstands water. Each puppet is a miniature work of art, capturing the facial expressions, costumes, and spirit of its character. The crafting process involves many meticulous steps, from shaping and drying to sanding, painting, and even silver leafing. With their high level of skill and creativity, many Rach Village artisans have been commissioned to make puppets for professional water puppet theaters across Vietnam.
During festivals and cultural events, visitors to Rach Village can immerse themselves in this unique traditional art form—watching the “dances on water,” feeling the talent and dedication of the local artists. For the people here, water puppetry is not only a treasured heritage but also an inseparable part of their cultural identity—quietly enduring, yet brightly shining in the heart of their homeland.