Only about 30km from the center of Hanoi , Chuong village in Phuong Trung commune, Thanh Oai district, still retains its peaceful appearance, where the sound of knocking on bamboo frames and needlework sewing conical hats resounds regularly in every house. Having been attached to the craft of making conical hats for generations, the people here not only produce a simple handicraft product, but also preserve a part of the Vietnamese soul.
The keeper of the soul of Chuong village's conical hats
Artisan Ta Thu Huong (born in 1968) is from a family of three generations making conical hats in Chuong village. Although she has worked in many different jobs since then, Ms. Huong has remained steadfast in her choice to return, continuing with bamboo frames, palm leaves, needles and threads.
Preserving the craft in modern times is not simple. “There were times when I almost kept the craft alone, because the young generation was no longer interested. I went from house to house, taught for free, passed on my experience, and told stories while working so that the children could understand the value of the craft,” the female artisan shared.
The hat-making profession faces many difficulties: unstable output, increasingly scarce raw materials, and a shortage of human resources. However, with perseverance, love for the profession, and a spirit of innovation, Ms. Huong has not only preserved the traditional profession but also breathed new life into it.
A variety of conical hat designs from traditional to modern
Each hat is the result of a meticulous labor process: selecting leaves, drying in the sun, flattening, building the frame, sewing leaves, compressing the hat, polishing with beeswax… Every step requires skill and patience. For Ms. Huong, it is not just a technique but an art, the way the artisan “breathes life” into each product.
Not stopping at traditional hats, artisan Ta Thu Huong also innovated new hat lines: hats embroidered with folk patterns, poems with handwritten words, or hats combining materials such as lace and silk to serve the fashion and high-end gift markets.
If in the past, conical hats were associated with the image of women wearing ao dai or farmers working in the fields, now, thanks to the creativity and dedication of female artisans, the conical hat has become a vivid cultural symbol.
Not only creating unique hat designs for fashion and decoration, the artisan also proactively connects with high-end hotels to bring hat-making experiences into services for international tourists as a way for them to touch Vietnamese culture. She also cooperates with many schools, organizing workshops to guide students to make hats by themselves, contributing to spreading love for the profession and helping the younger generation understand more about the value of national culture.
“Each conical hat is not just an object but a story about culture, about the craft and about the Vietnamese people. I want everyone who wears the hat to feel that,” the artisan shared. Thanks to her enduring love for the craft, artisan Ta Thu Huong has not only preserved the soul of Chuong village’s conical hats, but also contributed to bringing the conical hat, a symbol of Vietnamese beauty, beyond borders, touching the hearts of international friends.
"Soul" of Chuong village
From a symbol of the Vietnamese countryside, the conical hat under the hands of artisan Ta Thu Huong has crossed all boundaries, becoming a cultural ambassador bringing the image of Vietnam to the world. Ms. Huong has represented Vietnam in many cultural events and handicraft exhibitions in Japan, Korea, Germany and France organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Not only displaying products, she also directly introduced the process of making hats, bringing the "soul" of Chuong village to friends around the world.
Artist Ta Thu Huong (2nd from left)
One of the most memorable moments was at the APEC 2006 Conference in Hanoi, where a female artisan crafted a giant conical hat as a prop for the performance of the song "My Homeland Vietnam". The image was both solemn and fresh, demonstrating the subtle blend of traditional heritage and contemporary language of expression.
Continuing that success, at Paris Fashion Week 2023, her collection of traditional ao dai combined with hand-embroidered hats made a strong impression on international experts and media.
At an international forum with 360 attendees in Quang Ninh, artisan Ta Thu Huong organized a hat-making demonstration, gave instructions on drawing patterns, and shared the stories behind each product. Many foreign visitors were fascinated by the ingenuity in hat-making techniques and bought the products as souvenirs as part of their memories from Vietnam.
Mr. Robert, a university lecturer from the US: “I see each conical hat as a work of art, reflecting incredible patience and craftsmanship. This is not just a handmade product, it carries the soul of Vietnamese culture.”
Not only does she attend fairs and exhibitions, artisan Ta Thu Huong is also the one who preserves and develops the community tourism model in Chuong village. Many international tourists have come to the village to visit and experience hat making under her guidance. For her, each time she welcomes guests is not only an opportunity to spread the craft, but also an opportunity to inspire and tell the story of the love for the craft and the perseverance of the people of Chuong village.
With nearly 50 years of experience in the hat-making profession, artisan Ta Thu Huong is very proud to be the one who keeps the fire burning for the traditional craft village. In the era of integration, she always hopes that the younger generation can follow this path, not only preserving but also creating and renewing the craft village through forms such as community tourism, international connections, and participation in global craft associations to expand the stature of Vietnamese hats.
During her journey, artisan Ta Thu Huong told stories using palm leaves and bamboo, becoming a silent “cultural ambassador” bringing the image of Vietnam to the world in the most rustic way.
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/nu-nghe-nhan-di-tung-nha-ke-chuyen-bang-la-co-tre-nua-de-giu-nghe-truyen-thong-20250426223446072.htm
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