An international conference aimed at preserving and developing the cultural values of the craft of Non La (conical hat) making as part of Vietnam’s international economic integration will take place on Saturday in the central province of Thua Thien Hue.
(Illustrative photo: congthuong.vn)
Participants will discuss the current situation and solutions for the sustainable development of conical hats. The event will provide a chance for craftsmen to exchange information about the craft of conical hat making. Advertising Hue conical hats and seeking measures to improve vocational training for local practitioners are set to be hot topics during the conference.
The conference is jointly organised by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) Vietnam and the Hue Conical Hat Association, and is expected to attract plenty of domestic and foreign intellectuals and craftsmen.
The craft of conical hat making has been practiced in Thua Thien Hue for centuries. It is still well preserved today in Tay Ho village of Phu Ho commune, My Lam village of Phu My commune, and the villages of Phu Cam, Phuoc Vinh, Doc So, Trieu Tay, and Huong So in Hue.
Craftsmen residing in the village sell millions of conical hats to the market each year, not only meeting the needs of local people, but also providing an attractive souvenir for visitors to the province.
Along with the typical three-layer conical hats made from palm leaves, local artisans use leaves from the lotus and bamboo as materials to produce conical hats.