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| Chuong Village conical hats are diverse in design and color. (Photo: hanoimoi.vn) |
According to village elders, the craft of making conical hats in Chuong Village dates back to the 8th century. The standout feature of Chuong Village conical hats is the meticulous stitching. The main materials used are fresh palm leaves imported from provinces such as Quang Binh and Quang Tri, along with thread and hat frames woven from local bamboo. Fresh palm leaves are quite heavy, so the artisans dry them under the sun for about three days to let the moisture evaporate. Next, the leaves undergo a treatment process to make them dry and softer. After this, the leaves are dried further and baked one final time to complete the treatment process. At this stage, the young palm leaves change from green to yellow. Once the materials are ready, the artisans begin sewing the hats.
Artisan Ta Thu Huong shared that Chuong Village conical hats are not only a traditional beauty but also an important source of income for over 4,000 local households. With the development of this craft, Chuong Village has become one of the leading suppliers of various traditional hats, such as "quai thao" hats and old conical hats. "Quai thao" hats are used by elderly people going to pagodas, while old conical hats serve women in agricultural work.
The craft village has notably built the Chuong Village conical hat brand, a collective trademark granted by the Intellectual Property Office. The products are connected with business units for distribution and export, expanding the consumer market. In addition to strong domestic consumption, Chuong Village conical hats are also exported to various markets, including Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Thailand, France, the US and Australia. Chuong Village conical hats are highly appreciated by customers for their quality, design, price and service.
In 2021, Chuong Village conical hats were rated as an OCOP 4-star product in Hanoi's "One Commune One Product" program. Artisan Ta Thu Huong shared that the recognition of their conical hats as an OCOP product helps increase their value and facilitates finding partners to sign export contracts.
According to Pham Viet Hung, Chairman of the Phuong Trung Communal People's Committee, to preserve the craft, the locality collects, preserves and maintains documents on the traditional values of the craft village and its products. They support the construction of display rooms, craft museums, and traditional craft demonstration areas.
Chuong Village has a conical hat craft museum showcasing the distinctive conical hats of the craft village along with tools, equipment and techniques used in the craft. The conical hat craft museum covers 300 square meters, with three main rooms: the introduction room, the display room, and the demonstration room.
The introduction room provides information, images and videos about the history, characteristics and value of the craft village and conical hats. The display room showcases various conical hat products, such as "quai thao" hats, old conical hats, new conical hats, creative conical hats, and special conical hats. The demonstration room hosts hat-making demonstrations and cultural and artistic activities related to conical hats.
The conical hat craft museum attracts many visitors who come to learn about the traditional craft of conical hat making and appreciate the beauty and artistry of conical hats.
Currently, Phuong Trung particularly focuses on vocational training, craft transmission, and skill propagation. The commune has developed mechanisms and policies to support maintaining and developing the artisan team, encouraging and motivating artisans to participate in these activities.
Artisans in the village frequently open vocational classes for students, local residents, and villagers, aiming to pass on skills and a love for the craft to the next generation. The students are guided by experienced, skilled, dedicated artisans, practicing the steps of making conical hats from leaf processing and hat weaving to decoration./.