Chuong Village on the outskirts of Hanoi is famous for making beautiful and resistant conical hats. The craft is said to have been here for over 500 years. Today, it is still much cherished by younger generations. This has brought Cameron, an Australian expat in Hanoi, to Chuong village to explore the secret behind making this kind of hat.
There are different kinds of conical hats in Vietnam. Each one has its own beauty, though they are all made from palm leaves and share the common feature of simplicity. From an everyday object, the conical hat has become a fashion symbol of Vietnam.
Cameron visited the home of Tùy, a local hat maker with 40 years of experience, and joined him in his family and their daily work.This is the first step in making a conical hat - massaging the palm leaves by foot in the sand.
There are different kinds of conical hats in Vietnam. Each one has its own beauty, though they are all made from palm leaves and share the common feature of simplicity. From an everyday object, the conical hat has become a fashion symbol of Vietnam.
Cameron visited the home of Tuy, a local hat maker with 40 years of experience, and joined him in his family and their daily work.This is the first step in making a conical hat - massaging the palm leaves by foot in the sand.
After massaging the leaves for 20 minutes, they start to open up.Cameron followed a woman in the house to take the leaves to dry under the sun.
On sunny days, the palm leaves are dried everywhere in the village, from dykes to people’s yards.Under the scorching sun, the green leaves turn into silvery white.When the leaves are ready, Tuy shows Cameron how to stretch them. Now comes the last and most important step in in the process - ironing the palm leaves.
According to Tuy, this is the most difficult part of preparing the leaves because it requires the correct amount of pressure and heat to flatten the leaf without burning it.
The frame of the hat is made from bamboo, which is light and durable. It consists of 8 rims and 16 symmetrical circles. The frame is first covered by a layer of palm leaves. The flattened leaves are spread evenly over the frame and then sewn together. Next comes a layer of stealth that helps the hat become steady, durable, and heat-proof. And finally, the outer layer of leaves.
Sewing palm leaves requires dexterity from hat makers to sew straight lines. According to Tuy, even for the most experience craftmen, it takes a full day to make a conical hat. On his first try, Cameron was quite struggling with this task. But Tuy told him not to worry, because even if his hat is not good enough, it can still be used for some other purpose.
The process of making hats involves people of all ages. Everyone can take part in some way. Children can stretch the leaves. Adults work on other intricate steps such as ironing leaves and sewing. Working together, they create an atmosphere of community. And that is how the craft of hat making will be preserved into the future.
