The Quintessence of Tonkin - MUST-SEE CULTURAL SPECTACLE

Summary

The Quintessence of Tonkin invites you to go through the gate of our ancient Vietnamese village and tells you the story of thousand years of literature in one hour. The Show The Show draws inspiration from the spiritual history of the nearby Thay Pagoda telling the story of the pagoda's founding by venerable monk Tu Dao Hanh, and explains the ancient union between religion and the monarchy. Years in the making and with hundreds of performers, an interactive stage, state-of-the-art technology, and a stunning setting, this live spectacle is an unmissable highlight of any trip to Hanoi The Story You will experience six aspects of the cultural Quintessence of Tonkin: Poetry, Buddhism, Nostalgia, Music & Painting, Joy & Festivities. Not only opening up the cultural space of the northern delta with people's daily life activities, the play also shows the audience the best of the water puppetry art with the story of the venerable monk Tu Dao Hanh and the history of the ancient Thang Long royal palace. The Performers There are two groups of performers in this show: local families of farmers, bringing their experience and showcasing their lives to the audiences, and a young team of talented Students from the Hanoi College of Dance, bringing youth and energy to the stage. The Theater The theater itself is an engineering masterpiece. The natural lake was transformed into a stage, including a state-of-the-art hydrothermal system that raises the 15-ton Thuy Dinh pagoda from under the water in just under a minute. As the Thay Mountain composes the background of the scenery, we also had to develop a unique illumination system to light up the hills, 1.5km away, using 40 lamps of 1500 watts! The Costumes The costumes are made of traditional patterns and raw materials — silk and cotton. They are all made onsite, and in order to faithfully illustrate our history and culture, were produced under the supervision of a historian and multiple artisans.

Tour info

Duration
3 hours
Group Size
Pricing (From)
Commentary
Meeting Point
Dropoff location

Why take this tour?

Highlights:  Vietnam's Must-see Outdoor Cultural Spectacle • Explores the deep-rooted culture of northern Vietnam • Drawing upon the rich history of the Red River Delta provinces • Sharing northern Vietnamese tradition from a contemporary perspective The Story immerges in history and culture  • The stage occupies a space close to Chua Thay, one of the oldest Buddhist pagodas in Vietnam • The audience watches the performance to the backdrop of the pagoda Real People, Real Performer  These local farmers know the story of countryside dwelling – farming, fishing, and festivals – better than anyone. It is their story to tell…” • The performance does not employ professional performers • All the performers are locals, trained specifically for the spectacle • Each performer has undergone a rigorous 1-year training program This is more than just a show – it’s an experience.

What’s included?

  • Pick up: 17:00pm (Hanoi Tower – Stage) if you choose shuttle bus services

  • Drop off: 20:05pm (Thay Pagoda – Hanoi Tower) if you choose shuttle bus services

  • Tickets

  • Dinner (available upon your request with surcharge $18/person)

  • Gratuities

Things to know

Before you book

  • Duration: 3h

  • Mobile tickets accepted

Cancellation Policy

    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Operated by:

BC Family Tour

About operator:

Since 2006, BCFamilyTour.com has been a leading travel company in Southeast Asia specialising in tailor-made, private guided tours, group tours and travel services to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos... as well as multi-country tours across the region. Using an expansive portfolio of tours carefully crafted to show you the very best of each country, our travel experts create tailor-made travel packages to match all your travel preferences and needs. BCFamilyTour.com gives support to social projects by giving 15% of our profits towards charity projects at BC Club Foundation.

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