The last hat makers keep the symbol of hard-working women and the beauty of the countryside.

(Dan Tri) - The craft of making conical hats used to be the pride of women in Que Minh commune, Que Son district, Quang Nam province. But over time, the traditional craft gradually faded away, with only a few elderly women still diligently preserving the craft.

At the age of 70, Mrs. Thai Thi Thanh, a hat maker in Dien Loc village, Que Minh commune, is still working hard on the hat frame. Her thin but flexible hands quickly move each stitch, sewing into pure white hats. Having spent nearly her entire life in the profession, Mrs. Thanh understands every step, from selecting leaves, drying, whittling bamboo to making hats.

"In the past, making conical hats was very popular. People did it to exchange for rice or sell it to support their families. But then life became better, and many people quit the job because the income was low and not enough to cover living expenses," Ms. Thanh shared.

The once famous hat-making craft now has only a few elderly craftsmen remaining (Photo: Kim Duyen).

Sharing the same sentiment, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Tien, a long-time craftsman in the village, still perseveres in her craft. Having learned to make conical hats since childhood, to her, each conical hat is not only a means of protection from the sun and rain, but also the breath of the village, a memory of the hard but meaningful days.

"Every day I sew one or two hats, not for money but because I love the job and don't want to see it disappear. No matter how little or how much, I still try to keep the traditional craft of my grandparents," Ms. Tien confided.

However, in recent years, the young generation is no longer interested in the craft of making conical hats. The children of the old craftsmen have gradually sought other paths, because this profession is hard and the income is modest. A conical hat is sold for only 15,000-20,000 VND, not enough to cover living expenses.

Gradually, in the village there are only a few people who keep the profession as a habit, a nostalgia rather than a livelihood.

The process of making hats requires meticulousness and dexterity (Photo: Kim Duyen).

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Phuong, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Que Minh Commune, the traditional conical hat making craft is facing numerous difficulties. Raw materials are increasingly scarce, while the market is flooded with cheap industrial products with diverse designs. Handmade conical hats are therefore struggling to find a foothold.

"Currently, there are only about 20 elderly people keeping the profession. The commune has tried many times to restore the craft village and find outlets for its products, but has encountered many challenges. However, the locality will still make efforts to restore the craft village and continue to encourage people to keep the traditional craft alive so that it does not fade away," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Phuong.

Palm leaves are placed on the frame to keep the conical hat round and beautiful (Photo: Kim Duyen).

The craft of making conical hats is gradually fading into the past, but in the patient hands of the last craftsmen like Mrs. Thanh and Mrs. Tien, the breath of the craft village is still intact. They not only sew each needle, creating beautiful and durable conical hats, but also preserve the soul of a traditional craft village.

Amid the dry sunshine of the countryside, the silhouettes of old workers next to the conical hat frames are still silent and diligent, like witnesses of a golden age.

They make conical hats not only to make a living, but also to preserve the soul of the countryside, to preserve a profession that has supported many generations, so that each conical hat will forever be a symbol of hard work and the beauty of the Vietnamese countryside.

Kim Duyen

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/lao-dong-viec-lam/nhung-tho-non-cuoi-cung-giu-bieu-tuong-phu-nu-tan-tao-net-dep-lang-que-20250314153221620.htm