Go to Chuong village to learn how to make conical hats

Early in the morning of Chuong market (Phuong Trung commune, Thanh Oai district) on the day of Chuong village festival (10th day of the third lunar month), stalls full of hats and hat-making materials brighten up the whole corner of the village from 5am.

Artisan Le Van Tuy guides a group of young people in weaving conical hats in Chuong village. Photo: QUY DUC

Chuong Market is famous as a tourist destination for those who love to explore rural markets, about 30km from the center of Hanoi, held on the 4th, 10th, 14th, 20th, 24th of the lunar calendar, every family excitedly brings their family's goods here to sell. The market opens early, is crowded and bustling but quickly disperses after about 3 hours.

After visiting the hat market, enjoying watching women weaving hats, then asking to try on hats and take souvenir photos, a group of students from Hanoi University of Culture went to survey and learn about the hat making craft in Chuong village, joined the procession of the Chuong village festival, then visited the house of hat maker Le Van Tuy.

Coming to the materials such as leaves, bamboo strips, and hat frames that artisan Le Van Tuy had prepared, the group of young people were excited by the skillful hands of the artisan instructing them on how to sew hats and his story. According to artisan Le Van Tuy, since the 8th century, the village has started producing hats. At that time, Chuong village was called Trang Thi Trung, specializing in making hats for almost all classes in society. During the development period, Chuong village was the place to provide many types of traditional hats such as non quai thao, conical hats made of old leaves; in which, the quai thao was worn by the elderly to go to the pagoda, while the conical hats made of old leaves were used by women doing farm work.

“The trip was very useful and interesting. I got to visit Chuong conical hat village, a rustic and simple village with many ancient houses that preserve national cultural values and witnessed artisans making conical hats and quai thao hats,” said student Tran Minh Phuong, Hanoi University of Culture.

The craft of weaving conical hats in Chuong village has been passed down through many generations and this place is one of the most famous cradles of producing conical hats in Hanoi. Currently, there are about 2,700 households in Chuong village weaving conical hats, bringing cheap products with rich designs to domestic and international customers. To make a conical hat with the typical characteristics of Chuong village, the craftsman must go through many meticulous stages, from the stage of preparing materials such as selecting leaves, processing leaves to the finishing steps. Sewing the hat is the most difficult stage. A good craftsman must ensure that the leaves are not crushed, the needle points are not exposed, the stitches must be even, tight, and there must be no gaps when held up to the light. The hat is completed when the cradle stage, that is, the part where the strap is tied, is finished, depending on the hat, the cradle is mixed with colors and coordinated. To prevent water absorption, the craftsman will apply a thin layer of pine oil on the outside.

“Making a hat is difficult, finding a market for Chuong village conical hats in the context of declining demand for traditional products is even more difficult. However, many households in Phuong Trung have found a new direction, focusing on making products for tourism and export. Many new hat designs, typically including silk hats - made in combination with Ha Dong silk. Thanks to that, the hat making profession has gradually been restored and has developed steadily, in addition to serving the traditional needs, there are also types of hats as souvenirs and decorations,” said artisan Le Van Tuy.

According to Mr. Tran Van Loi, Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Thanh Oai district, in recent years, Chuong village has become a destination in a number of craft village tours. Currently, Phuong Trung commune has planned and is waiting for competent authorities to approve a project of nearly 20 hectares to develop the hat-making profession. With these orientations, it is hoped that the hat-making profession will develop more strongly, thereby increasing the income of craftsmen, contributing positively to the construction of new rural areas.

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