A unique performance
Published on February 16, 2005 By C H Wood In

The Vietnamese are famous for water puppetry. On Sunday night Chris and I saw the water puppets.  The show was interesting to view as they told tales of myths and of daily life with water puppets.  The water puppets are carved wooden figures that are on long poles.  The poles are attached underneath the puppets so as they appear on the pond they do not appear to be attached to anything.  There was an accompanying band of traditional Vietnamese musicians.  It was very unique.  When the puppeteers came out to take their bow there were about fifteen of them and they were standing in water that was about two to two and one half feet deep.

The puppets were works of art in themselves.  They were carved wood and painted with very colorful  lacquers.  They had dancers, turtles, oxs, farmers,  fish, soldiers, dragons, and kings to name a few.    We both enjoyed the performance.  I think my favorite parts were the rice farming scene and the fisherman's scene.  


Comments
on Feb 16, 2005
Ok I am going to be as kind as I know how to be, while your extolling the virtues to vietnam, understand there are still a few of us {vietnam vets} that are irked by all this happy happy joy joy stuff. ok?
on Feb 16, 2005

Well, I'm sorry you feel that way.   

Obviously the war had a profound impact on both the US and Vietnam.    That was what was interesting as well from the trip.    It's been clear some of the ways that the US has viewed and changed by Vietnam, and vice versa.

Being raised in the 70's, my generation's impressions of Vietnam was always shapped by the war, including all of the pop culture movies, documentaries, etc that followed.    That was part of my interest in going; to see a real country, not just one shown in Platoon or Full Metal Jacket.    

While the war was important to both countries, it was also over 30 years ago.   It's not the sole focus of either country anymore.    So we wanted to share what Vietnam is like *today*.     It's clearly not perfect, and has some crazy idosyncracies, but it has some unique things to see and do that make it interesting.     I really don't know that former Vets would recognize the place if they were to return (which is probally a good thing).

Anyway, I think the country is more then about the war.    Just like Korea or Germany or Mexico or Spain or England.    And I don't think most Americans have any idea what Vietnam 2005 is like.    Hence the articles.

If it touches a nerve with you or others, I'm sorry about that.     I would recommend going back to other topics until this finishes, then.