After an excellent performance in Stockholm, the display of traditional Vietnamese Water Puppetry was held for the first time in London on the 26th September. The event took place in the private gardens of Regent’s College where a specially built theatre held a 60 tonne water tank for the performers.

Altimo, the leading $30 billion international telecoms investment group, was hosting an evening of Vietnamese culture reflecting its continued focus on developing relationships and making new investments in high growth emerging markets, notably South East Asia. Just recently, a $1 billion investment project was announced by Altimo’s investee Vimpelcom to be made in Vietnam.

The performance completed the Altimo sponsored Vietnam Puppetry Theatre’s European tour which began with a performance in Stockholm on 20th September. Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre is the leading organization in the performing art of puppetry in Vietnam and it has set up performances across the world.

Vietnamese water puppetry originated in the Red River Delta during the Ly Dynasty (1010-1225) and was traditionally performed during the spring after the farm work has been completed, on stages built in ponds in flooded rice fields. The scenes performed depict day-to-day village life, along with legends and national history and are performed with hand-carved puppets standing nearly two-feet high.

Altimo is very thankful to have the support of the Vietnamese Embassy in London, and the guests attended including His Excellency the Ambassador for Vietnam, Mr. Tran Quang Hoan, members of Altimo’s International Advisory Board such as Sir Julian Horn-Smith, and Sir Roderic Lyne KCMG; and a wide range of guests from the Vietnamese community in the UK including, Heads of Missions of ASEAN countries, cultural attaches, members of the foreign commonwealth office, MPs, and representatives from the Vietnamese Community Association and Vietnamese Business Association.

Reflecting Altimo’s commitment to long term investment in Vietnam, the performance was in aid of the Vietnamese Red Cross and during the evening Altimo will present the organisation with a cheque in support of its work in Vietnam and the rest of the world.