Hanoi artisan spreads Vietnamese conical hats far and wide

THE HANOI TIMES — Visitors to Vietnam, especially Hanoi, are often captivated by graceful women in flowing ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) and the iconic non la (conical hat).

Adding to this classic depiction of Vietnamese beauty is Ta Thu Huong, a talented conical hat maker from Chuong, a village nestled in the tranquil countryside of Thanh Oai District, just outside Hanoi.

Not conforming to the traditional, rustic non la, artisan Ta Thu Huong has breathed life into the traditional item with her passion and creativity. Marrying the conical hat with Ha Dong silk, she creates works of art that both preserve the quintessence of the craft village and serve as unique tourist products.

Craft-preserving journey

In early May, artisan Huong's small house in Chuong Village became an inviting stop on craft village tours. Though busy at work, she kindly guides visitors through each stage of non la production, from arranging the leaves, to tying the brim and sewing the leaves together. The visitors can feel her dedication to the craft village and understand the complexity behind the simple grace of the Vietnamese conical hat.

Born in the cradle of traditional hat making, Huong has been fascinated by needles and thread since she was a little girl. After she grew up, she not only followed in her family's footsteps but also took the village's products to many places through fairs, cultural festivals, and tourism promotion programs at home and abroad. Her non la stall always stands out for its unique design and holds a special appeal for visitors.

According to Huong, making a non la requires meticulousness, ingenuity, and creativity at every stage: selecting materials such as leaves and spathes from the Huong Son forest in Ha Tinh Province, bending and tying bamboo loops, spreading the leaves and spathes, shaping the brim, covering the hat with silk, drawing motifs, and so on. The stitches must be precise and even. Over the years, Thu Huong brand non la has become the standard in Chuong village for its durability, delicacy, and aesthetics.

Through constant innovation, the artisan has improved the Ha Dong silk conical hat model, whose elegant charm is much loved and highly praised by consumers. It is also one of the six models of Thu Huong Workshop that have been recognized as 4-star OCOP (One Commune, One Product) items. Other popular models include bodhi leaf conical hats, lotus leaf conical hats, raw silk strapped conical hats, or prop conical hats.

Offering a variety of designs and sizes, Huong also came up with the fresh idea of combining painting with traditional craftsmanship. She paints 3D images of landscapes, the Vietnamese flag, yellow stars, Vietnamese girls, and more on the hats. Such unique hats are strong magnets for international tourists. At present, Thu Huong non la workshop sells 2,000 to 3,000 hats per month to both domestic and export markets.

From conical hats to “cultural ambassadors” of the craft village

In addition to making and trading conical hats, Ta Thu Huong is one of the village's pioneers in preserving local culture and developing the local economy. As Chairwoman of the Thu Huong Rattan and Bamboo Weaving and Conical Hat Cooperative, she is working with travel companies to develop a community-based tourism model where visitors can make their own non la, enjoy traditional cuisine, and learn about Vietnamese culture.

"Dozens of visitors come here every day for sightseeing, while on weekends there are 300 to 400 people," Huong said. The family's modest home has become a typical destination in Chuong Village, helping to spread the image of Hanoi's handicraft villages.

At the same time, Huong and other artisans showcase the conical hats at the local site and online channels, helping to revive the love for traditional items.

Having made non la for almost 50 years, the artisan's main concern is to create a craft village exhibition space and organize experiential activities for tourists. She hopes that the local authorities will support and invest in the construction of a Craft Village Exhibition Area. In particular, a "conical hat road" is eagerly awaited, where the products of over 4,000 households in the village will converge, creating a unique cultural symbol for Hanoi's craft village tourism.

"We are ready to contribute our efforts and products to make the 'conical hat road' a reality, so that Chuong Village becomes a lasting memory for tourists," Huong emphasizes.

With her deft hands and inventive creativity, Ta Thu Huong has helped conical hats go beyond the border, presenting Vietnam's images to friends around the world.