Hanoi (VNA) -ඣ Four Vietnamese artists will head to the Republic ofKorea (RoK) for water puppetry shows in four cities to mark the 30thanniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the RoK.

The group will stage a total of 20 shows, with each lasting for 50 minutesacross the cities of Seoul, Gyungju, Yungduk, and Chuncheon from August 10 toSeptember 6, reported Radio The Voice of Vietnam (VOV). They will use the platform to introduce classic water puppetry plays to Koreanaudiences, such as fishing, buffalo fighting, dragon, and phoenix dances. They will also spend time holding exchanges alongside local audiences todiscuss the traditional Vietnamese art form. Vietnamese artist Phan Thanh Liem, one of the four puppeteers, shared that hefelt delighted at receiving an invitation to perform in the RoK, especiallyafter two years of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will mark the fifth time that Liem has performed in the RoK since 2003. Hesaid Korean audiences had shown great interest in Vietnamese water puppetry inprevious performances. Liem was born into a family that has been preserving the art of water puppetryin Nam Truc district, Nam Dinh province, for seven generations. His father isfamous puppeteer Phan Van Ngai, who created the mobile water puppetry stage.Ngai also made the puppet Chu Teu, a humorous farmer, which is currently ondisplay in France’s Louvre Museum. He is also the very first artisan to create a mini water puppetry stage whichhosted regular shows at his private house on Kham Thien street in Hanoi since2000. He has been invited to bring his mobile theatre to many international puppetfestivals around the world, including in the UK, the RoK, Thailand, China,Italy, Canada, and the US./.