The Thay Pagoda festival is held in the third lunar month, with the main days traditionally from the 5th to the 7th, usually falling in April. It honours the monk Tu Dao Hanh with ceremonies, music, games and water puppet shows on the pavilion in Long Tri pond.
Outside the festival, the pavilion is there to see but shows are not performed. Festival days are crowded, colourful and not the day for a quiet visit.
Visit on the day that suits you
Festival crowds or a quiet weekday, we plan either.
★Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourDuong Lam in depth, lunch cooked in an old house, then the pagoda where water puppetry began · About 9 hoursSee the tour →Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourThe laterite lanes, a 400-year-old house and a che lam kitchen, with your own guide · About 5.5 hoursSee the tour →What happens at the festival
| Part | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Ceremonies | Processions and offerings to Tu Dao Hanh |
| Water puppets | Shows on the water pavilion |
| Games and music | Traditional games and folk music around the pond |
| Crowds | Very busy, especially at weekends |
Seeing puppets on other days
If you want to watch water puppets outside the festival, a theatre show in Hanoi is the reliable choice. Thay Pagoda on an ordinary day shows you where the tradition is said to have begun, not a performance. Water puppets are performed at the Thay Pagoda water pavilion only during the pagoda festival in the third lunar month. On other days you see the pavilion and hear its story, not a show.
Background on the pagoda is in our guide to Thay Pagoda.
Thay Pagoda on a calm day
Our full day reaches the pagoda in the quieter afternoon.
Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourAbout 9 hoursSee the tour →Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →Questions people ask
When is the Thay Pagoda festival?
In the third lunar month, main days traditionally the 5th to the 7th, usually in April.
Are there water puppet shows every day?
No, only during the festival.
Is the festival crowded?
Yes, very, especially at weekends.
Plan your Thay Pagoda day
Guide, car, tickets and lunch in one group price, free to cancel until 3 days before.
★Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourDuong Lam in depth, lunch cooked in an old house, then the pagoda where water puppetry began · About 9 hoursfrom$93/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$275BOOK →2 guests$305BOOK →3 guests$340BOOK →4 guests$370BOOK →See the full tour page →Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourThe laterite lanes, a 400-year-old house and a che lam kitchen, with your own guide · About 5.5 hoursfrom$45/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$165BOOK →2 guests$170BOOK →3 guests$175BOOK →4 guests$180BOOK →See the full tour page →Festival timing follows the lunar calendar; dates checked in September 2026.