With the celebration of the history of northern Vietnam and the preservation of traditional water puppetry at its heart, The Quintessence of Tonkin is also an emotive expression of the ancient union between religion and monarchy. The show is romantic, poetic and emotional, and brings a breath of fresh air and stirring excitement to Vietnamese entertainment. The entire show is performed on water, and local farmers and their families from the Sai Son Commune in the Quoc Oai area — just outside Hanoi — were trained for two years to bring the extravaganza to life. A replica of the famous Thuy Dinh pavilion from the Thay Pagoda complex, complete with lake and bamboo forest, is the setting for this lavish production. Even the Thay Mountain half a kilometre away is an integral part of the set. With its inspired use of modern entertainment technology, no expense has been spared to bring this creative vision to life