The beauty of Sai Nga conical hat making village.

Sai Nga conical hat-making village, Cam Khe town, Cam Khe district, is located on the banks of the Thao River. Initially, conical hat making was just a secondary occupation, but over generations, the people here have preserved and developed it into a traditional craft, not only creating jobs and developing the economy but also contributing to preserving the unique cultural beauty of their homeland.

Regarding the origins of the hat-making craft, some hat-making practitioners in Sai Nga say that it originated from people in Chuong village (now part of Thanh Oai district, Hanoi ) who, during their evacuation to Sai Nga, brought the craft with them. Therefore, the hat-making craft has existed in the commune for about 70-80 years, concentrated in Van Phu 1, 2, and 3 areas.

The craft of making conical hats in Cam Khe town, Cam Khe district, has a long history.

Ms. Tran Thi Hang from Van Phu 1 area, Cam Khe town, said: "In the village, from the elderly to the young children, everyone knows how to make conical hats. The oldest is over 80 years old, and the youngest are secondary school students who can help with some stages of hat making. In my family, three generations make hats together: my grandmother, my daughter-in-law, and my granddaughter. However, because my daughter is only in 7th grade, she mainly helps with simple tasks like stuffing and sewing the hats in her free time. The more difficult tasks are done by my mother and grandmother."

Making a conical hat involves many steps, including the materials: leaves, molds, rims, bamboo or reed sheaths, nylon thread, and wool yarn for stuffing. Previously, people used a plow to flatten the leaves; however, nowadays they have switched to using bamboo strips and electric stoves. Once all the materials are ready, they begin each step of the process. The finished conical hats are sold throughout the province and beyond at prices ranging from 25,000 to 100,000 VND depending on the density of the fabric. An experienced hat maker can typically make 2 densely woven hats or 6-7 sparsely woven hats per day.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Hai from Van Phu 1 area shared: "The hat-making craft in Sai Nga village has gone through many ups and downs throughout history. During its golden age, hats couldn't be produced fast enough to meet demand. However, there were also times when the market economy affected the craft, with young people going to work as factory workers in industrial zones, causing it to decline. Only a few elderly people in the village remain dedicated to the craft. Despite this, the people of Sai Nga village still cherish the hat-making craft because since becoming involved in it, the villagers have had additional work during their leisure time, contributing to economic development, improving their lives, and creating a cultural highlight in the locality."

Although it's a side job done during the off-season for farming, hat making provides a stable income for many people here.

Currently, the village has about 500 households making conical hats, producing approximately 550,000 hats per year, generating tens of billions of dong in revenue. In 2004, Sai Nga was officially recognized as a traditional craft village, with 40% of its income coming from hat making. In 2021, Sai Nga conical hats were recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, and in 2024, they were upgraded to a 4-star OCOP product.

Providing further information on the current development of traditional craft villages, Mr. Nguyen Duc Truong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cam Khe town, said: Affected by the shift in economic structure from traditional crafts to economic development in industrial zones and clusters, the number of young workers committed to the craft in the locality is decreasing. In addition, due to changes in living standards and people's habits of using hats to protect themselves from rain and sun, the hat-making craft is gradually declining in scale compared to before.

To further develop the craft village, the local government regularly promotes and encourages the people to diversify their conical hat products. Besides improving the quality of conical hats for daily life, they also develop commercial and tourism products, introducing and promoting them at tourist destinations inside and outside the province. The hats are also packaged in gift boxes, facilitating the reception of domestic and international tourists who come to visit and experience the atmosphere of the craft village.

With these efforts, we believe that in the future, the Sai Nga conical hat making craft will continue to affirm its "brand," preserve the cultural characteristics of the traditional craft village, and bring economic benefits that help people have a stable life.

Vinh Ha

Source: https://baophutho.vn/net-dep-lang-nghe-non-la-sai-nga-228223.htm