The Quintessence of Tonkin is located away from the hustle and bustle of central Hanoi in the Quoc Oai district, just over 20 kilometres west of the city. In tranquil countryside, with the Thay Mountain as the backdrop, the spectacle draws inspiration from the Thay Pagoda in nearby Sai Son village — one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Vietnam — and which you are encouraged to visit.
The stage is large enough to accommodate all 250 performers at once and is permanently submerged under 10 centimeters water. This allows for unique theatrical displays and provides an unusual canvas for Vietnam’s more striking cultural treasures, such as water puppetry and dragon boat racing, to be creatively portrayed. Tonkin Show is a long story that tells about the length of Vietnam history, gets through the history mark, shows Vietnam's old life, Vietnam art, and Vietnamese festival and religious life.
The entire show is performed on water, and local farmers and their families from the Sai Son Commune
