Skip the Line: The Quintessence of Tonkin Ticket (Wed, Sat, Sun)
Description
The Quintessence of Tonkin is located away from the hustle and bustle of central Hanoi in the Quoc Oai district, just over 20 kilometers west of the city. In the 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 of 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's history, gets through the history mark, and shows Vietnam's old life, Vietnam art, and Vietnamese festival and religious life.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Quintessence of Tonkin (or Tonkin show) is the first “real life performance” in Vietnam with the participation of 250 performers including 120 amateurs who is actually farmers in day life and from nearby villages. The show is performed entirely on water with mini scenes and properties moving flexible with special techniques. This show is the sweet result of 10-year effort with non-stop working and development from the production team and inspired by the cultural art with peaceful old life of Vietnamese and the Buddhism story of Tu Van Hanh monk – one of the most respected master of Vietnam Buddhism and the founder of Thay pagoda (a pagoda has hundreds years of history and is one of the most popular pagodas in the North of Vietnam).
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The show is about 1-hour driving from Hanoi. Guests can reach it by car or taxi; however, as most of the drivers do not know exactly where the show is, there is a better choice for people who want to enjoy Tonkin show – shuttle bus. Each performance night, the show always offers a shuttle bus (a big modern 45-seat bus) for the audience and it starts at 4.30 p.m -5.00 p.m. from Grand plaza hotel (117 Tran Duy Hung, Hanoi). Drop-off time: 20:45 from the show venue. Note: The show has strong sounds and lights, not encouraging children too young to participate.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(7)
This was a great experience. Great props, lights, costumes and effects. It was based on water which was really effective. For most of the show they had English translation. We felt the show ended abruptly and the last part of the show didn’t have English translation. Would recommend paying for gold section seating so you have a seat with a back for the show. It is also a fair drive out of the old quarter. They do offer a bus and show ticket option.
Thank you for your thoughtful feedback! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the overall experience — from the props and lighting to the water-based effects. Your note about the English translation and the ending is much appreciated and will be shared with the team. We also agree that the Gold Section seats add extra comfort, and we're happy the transport option was helpful. Thank you again for your recommendation!
It was the most incredible show I have ever watched. I would climb on a plane just to go and watch this show. We weren't allowed to use our phones for videos or pictures but it ended up forcing you to stay in the present and also you then didn't have all these shining phone screens in front of you ruining the experience.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're truly honored that the show left such a lasting impression on you. It's wonderful to hear that the phone-free policy helped create a more immersive and meaningful atmosphere — being fully present really does make all the difference. We’d be thrilled to welcome you back anytime, even if it means hopping on a plane again!
Beautiful evening show, lovely show to enjoy whilst on your trip, transport to and from the show was good, extra time before the show to enjoy local food and music at the venue
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed the evening show and had a great time experiencing the local food and music beforehand. We're also happy to know that the transportation worked well for you. We hope this added a special touch to your trip!
The show is beautiful. Highly recommend. Everything else was so bad. The doors don't open until 19:15. It's a very accessible location, it makes more sense to just get a taxi directly there and arrive on time to avoid waiting around in the heat and mosquitoes. You can also purchase the tickets elsewhere at a fraction of the cost. We took the bus, communication surrounding it was horrendous. What should have been a pleasant 1.5-2hrs was a frustrating 4.5hrs There was some basic food available, but it was average. Address is Tinh Hoa Bắc Bộ, Đình làng Đa Phúc, Baara Land, Quốc Oai, Hà Nội 100000
Dear Mr, I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to extend my sincere apologies for the inconvenience you experienced during your recent trip. Regarding the timing issues: - Show Timing: The doors for the show open from 7:00 to 7:15. Prior to the show, there is a local market you can enjoy, accompanied by traditional music. Unfortunately, the showtimes are fixed, and we regret any inconvenience this may have caused. - Bus Delay: I typically inform clients 30 minutes in advance to ensure they do not miss the public bus. Unfortunately, due to an unexpected traffic jam, the bus was delayed, causing discomfort. As soon as you contacted me, I immediately called to extend my apologies. We deeply regret any distress these incidents may have caused you. Receiving a 1-star review is something we take very seriously, and we are genuinely sorry for not meeting your expectations. Please accept our sincere apologies once again. We value your feedback and will use this experience to improve our services. Thank you for your understanding. Best regards,
Needs less "internetional" Laser visual effects and more authentical images Show is nice Ridiculous restrictions for photo/videography The management LOOSING free advertisement made by the guest's recording with following sharing with their friends
The show was good, but our tour guide was great! I forgot his name, but he was a young college student who wore glasses. Very Nice and humble young man. Best wishes and may good things come in all that you do.
