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The conical hat is one of the distinctive cultural symbols associated with the image of Vietnamese women. Made from readily available natural materials such as palm leaves, sedge leaves, and straw, woven on bamboo strips, the hat becomes an item that helps women protect themselves from rain and sun every day.
Over time, the conical hat has become an essential fashion accessory for modern women. In fact, this small hat has become a source of inspiration for young people who choose to reconnect with their cultural roots and constantly seek to breathe new life into it.
Returning to a centuries-old traditional hat-making village.
Two 23-year-old girls, Tran Thi Thuy Linh and Mai Thi Khanh Huyen, both grew up in Ninh Binh (formerly part of Nam Dinh province), and are part of that youth wave. Using their dynamism, enthusiasm, and boundless creativity, despite being extremely busy with their own work, these two young women are determined to work together to build the Non Thau project.
Starting out as students majoring in Tourism and Travel Service Management, Linh and Huyền had many opportunities to experience various cultural destinations through their tour guiding experiences. In addition, a practical course at school on "Vietnamese Traditional Craft Villages" further deepened their connection with traditional craft villages.
“Gathering valuable experiences from our time in school, we have realized many unique cultural values. Each craft village, each handcrafted product is not simply an item but also carries the breath, story, and spirit of the nation. Among them, the conical hat, though very familiar in daily life, seems to be gradually being forgotten in the modern world,” Thuy Linh, the project representative, confided.
Although Linh and Huyền had long shared a special interest in conical hats, they were both busy with school and work. It wasn't until early 2025, realizing they still had a strong connection to their collaborative project, that the two young women decided to travel together to Chuong village, Thanh Oai district, Hanoi.
"Giving a new look" to the traditional conical hat.
For a long time, the folk verse "Chuong village's conical hats, silk fabrics, and Do village's straw straps" has been irrefutable evidence of this craft village's reputation. The conical hats of Chuong village are considered a symbol of sophistication due to their strength, durability, elegance, and beauty.
Each conical hat undergoes up to 10 elaborate steps, from crumpling the leaves, drying them in the sun and dew, ironing them, splitting them, breaking the rings, spinning the shell, to sewing the hat, inserting the filling, splitting the brim, and being covered with three layers of leaves. Moreover, a beautiful hat must first and foremost have a sturdy frame.
A skilled craftsman, if they dedicate a full day (about 8-10 hours) with intense concentration, can complete 1-2 high-quality conical hats. This is a form of handicraft production, and each hat is a work of art. Making hats requires meticulousness and absolute patience from the craftsman.
At times, the selling price of a conical hat is often unfairly lowered, leading to unstable incomes for villagers and causing many to abandon the craft. Currently, most hat makers in the village are elderly women. This is also a common situation for many long-standing craft villages, where traditional handicraft values are gradually being obscured by modern life.
Thuy Linh shared: “A craftswoman once messaged us saying, ‘Thanks to social media and the media activities from you and those spreading the word about the beauty of the conical hat, more and more people are getting to know Chuong village.’ That was a huge encouragement for the two of us young people.”
While traditional conical hats are only coated with oil to create a glossy finish and even color, Nón Thâu's products are more subtly modified without losing their original beauty.
The hats are lined with a hidden 3D silk layer in neutral, soft colors; some models feature polka dot prints, bows, or designs reflecting modern fashion trends. This harmonious blend of tradition and modernity makes the hats more accessible to young people – a target group that is often difficult to reach in the hat-making profession.
Nón Thâu currently uses 13-ring hats – a more technically advanced style than the standard 8-ring hats. Therefore, the craftsmen in the group are all highly experienced and skilled, requiring more time to meticulously complete each hat. As a result, the defect rate is very low, almost negligible.
Entrusting dreams to cultural bridges.
During the recent national parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution (August 19, 1945 - August 19, 2025) and National Day (September 2, 1945 - 2025), Thuy Linh revealed that the Non Thau project produced 50-60 hats, including custom-made designs with patriotic messages. Each hat costs between 350,000 and 650,000 VND depending on the design.
Thuy Linh shared: “For the hats produced for the A80 festival, we agreed that we had to maintain a subtle patriotic spirit, avoiding exaggeration while still conveying emotion. Most of the sketching and painting of the patterns onto the silk-lined hats were done directly by us, so we didn't encounter any difficulties working with the older artisans in the village.”
Nón Thâu's latest collection, dedicated to brides this wedding season, has been in development since June. Each hat is handcrafted and intricately embellished with sequins, creating a unique and exquisite piece. These bridal hats are "born" from the traditional custom of the mother-in-law covering her daughter-in-law with a hat, carrying a profound meaning of protection and love for the young woman on her first day in her new home.
In the future, Linh and Huyen hope to bring the image of the conical hat, a symbol of Vietnamese culture, closer to international customers.
To expand further, Nón Thâu is planning to connect with travel companies to include conical hats as "Welcome to Vietnam" gifts for international tourists.
In addition, the two young women also hope to become sponsors in small-scale international cultural exchange programs – where the conical hat has the opportunity to appear as a charming gift, both traditional and reflecting the creative spirit of the younger generation.
"Our goal is for each hat to be not just a fashion item, but also a cultural bridge, where international visitors can feel the sophistication, craftsmanship, and meaning of Vietnamese art through every detail," Thuy Linh said.
