The activity form part of a state visit to Viet Nam by the Cuban couple, who will also attend the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam's National Day.
At the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, the Cuban lady and her entourage were introduced to the centuries-old folk art form, rooted in Viet Nam’s wet-rice culture. The two ladies watched performances selected from Viet Nam’s repertoire of nearly 400 water puppet plays.
Madam Lis Cuesta Peraza expressed her appreciation for the hospitality of Madam Ly and the Vietnamese artists, noting that the performances helped her better understand the art of water puppetry imbued with Vietnamese folk culture. She voiced her hope that in the future, Vietnamese puppeteers will visit Cuba to share this traditional art with Cuban audiences.
Recalling her visit in 2024 to El Arca Puppet Museum in Havana with Madam Lis Cuesta Peraza, Madam Ly said both Viet Nam and Cuba possess distinctive puppet traditions, adding that she hopes her guest will have chances to learn more about Viet Nam's puppetry during future visits.
After that, the two ladies walked to Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake, a favourite cultural site of Hanoians and visitors alike.
Their appearance drew warm greetings and applause from crowds of holidaymakers who gathered around the pedestrian streets decorated with flags and banners for the National Day. Many shouted “Viva Cuba, Viva Viet Nam” and “Viet Nam – Cuba” in celebration of the enduring friendship between the two nations.
At Ngoc Son Temple, they offered incense, learned about the history and legends of Hoan Kiem Lake, and viewed the preserved giant turtle specimen. On The Huc Bridge, they admired the iconic Turtle Tower and Ha Noi’s autumn landscape. The Cuban lady was delighted to receive a calligraphy work reading “Peace” from a local scholar.
