A puppetry play by Vietnamese artists has earned the Grand Prix at the Harmony World Puppet Carnival, which closed in Bangkok, Thailand on November 10.

The play titled “Nhip Dieu Que Huong,” The Melody of Homeland”, which is staged by the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre, earned the Grand Prix at the annual festival.

According to the theater, the play defeated 120 productions, which had been picked from 856 acts and programs from over 80 countries for the coveted prize.

The play also won the audiences’ prize at an ASEAN and China puppetry festival held in China in 2013.

“It’s the first time we have attended such a large arena. We were quite nervous as we brought to the festival a play in puppetry- a long-standing, thriving art in many countries- instead of our country’s hallmark water puppetry,” an artist said.

Founded in 2008, Harmony World Puppet Carnival) is a major playground where puppetry artists from the world over showcase their skills.

Prior to the opening of this year’s event, 160 troupes joined a street parade on a stretch of four kilometers in the cheers of residents and visitors in Bangkok.

The organizer also held performances in crowded streets and shopping malls to promote the unique art.

The festival’s five jurors joined the shows as members of the audiences, instead of formally sitting in the jury seats as usual.