The beauty of Vietnamese women with conical hats

The conical hat has long been associated with the image of graceful and hard-working Vietnamese women. Over time, through thousands of years of history, the conical hat still exists and is closely associated with the lives of women regardless of age or living conditions. Vietnamese women have made the conical hat more beautiful with their love of life and their loyal kindness. The simple, rustic beauty of women and conical hats has been a source of inspiration for many artists, poets, musicians, and painters...

Throughout the S-shaped strip of land, we can easily see the image of conical hats anywhere. Depending on each region, there will be different ways of making hats to suit, but in general, all creations are based on a traditional handmade method and the meaning of honoring the beauty of Vietnamese women.

“Homeland is a small bamboo bridge, Mother comes back with a tilted conical hat to shade her”

The conical hat appeared in Vietnam during the Tran Dynasty, around the 13th century. Since then, the hat has always been closely associated with the Vietnamese people.

The conical hat is not picky about its user, regardless of gender, rich or poor, old or young can wear it. It goes to the fields with farmers, goes with soldiers on the battlefield, goes with men and women to festivals, goes with concubines to the palace, goes with princesses and queens to pagodas to pray for love and children, and is on the heads of workers. It is quietly present in the lives of Vietnamese people.

Although there are many types of conical hats in our country, the common characteristics are wide brims to protect from rain and sun and sloping roofs to drain rainwater quickly. There are conical hats with pointed tops, wide-brimmed basket hats, three-tiered hats, etc.

During the war years, when sending their lovers off to the battlefield, girls often wore conical hats with purple straps. That alone was better than any oath of allegiance, reassuring those going to war…

In addition, the hat also aims to beautify and charm women and is suitable for the Vietnamese aesthetic sense of beauty in a delicate and discreet way. Vietnamese girls take care of the hat like a piece of jewelry, people attach a small round mirror to the top of the hat so that girls can beautify themselves discreetly.

The conical hat follows the farmer to the field, participating in the labor process for a bountiful harvest. When the wind dies down, the hat is used to fan to cool down. When turned upside down, it is used to hold a bunch of newly picked vegetables from the field, a few fruits, or to scoop water...

Nowadays, the conical hat has become a symbol of Vietnamese people in the eyes of international friends. The conical hat is always reserved a place in the luggage of tourists when coming to Vietnam.

Heritage Magazine