Traditional Hanoi Bell Village preserving the true Vietnamese conical hat-making profession can make Vietnamese women who wear “Ao Dai” become more charming and beautiful. The conical hats in this old village come in different shapes and sizes, attracting tourists to consider them as unique souvenirs of the old villages in Hanoi.
Hanoi’s traditional Bell Village with Vietnamese classic conical hats
Hanoi Bell Village
Chuong Non Chuong Village (“Non Chuong Village”) is located in Phuong Trung Commune, Thanh Oai District, about 30km from the center of Hanoi. This place is known for making traditional Vietnamese conical hats with many different versions such as white conical hats, yellow conical hats, pale Hue-style conical hats, small conical hats for old soldiers, etc. of this vintage village is the white version that beautifies the entire area with its attractive white color as well as a pleasant resinous scent.
According to local elders, they were taught to make conical hats from the age of 6 or 7. The children can help their mother wipe the palm leaves with a heated plow. Growing up a little, they learned to thread and sew simple version hats. When they are old enough, they practice how to shape a bamboo frame into a cone and some other advanced techniques.
Nowadays, local people are very flexible and responsive, getting contracts to export their conical hats to foreign countries such as Japan, France, Russia, Thailand, Korea, etc. Besides, there are efforts force to do this Hanoi traditional craft village more popular among tourist communities, leading to Hanoi Tour to Bell Village.
Bell Village – View from drone
Barn Fair
The conical hat market holds 6 sessions in the morning (as early as 6am) on the 4thordertenorder14order20order24orderand 30order of a lunar month. The market meets right in front of the Chuong pagoda yard. People are excited to sell conical hats and materials for making hats. The gathering was fast, bustling and ended after only 3 hours. Participants should arrive early to enjoy the unique Chuong conical hat market.
You can buy conical hats and materials for making hats. at Chuong market
Steps to make a Bell hat
It requires complex and precise process. First, artisans need to buy materials for making hats including leaves, rings, mo… and accessories such as needles, snells or fishing lines (“ghost lines”), etc.
- Straighten the Leaf (Being a Leaf): The leaf is pulled quickly through the heated plowshare to flatten and not break.
Step 1: Stretch the leaves (Be Leaves)
- Rotate the Cone (Spin the Cone): This stage includes a number of small steps that require artisans’ skills to ensure the durability of the hat: tie a string around the frame, thread the leaves around the frame, cover the leaves with the leaves, and then cover them with the leaves. .
Step 2: Rotate the cone (Spin the cone)
- Stitching the hat (Stitching the hat): Artisans sew the hat from the top to the largest brim. Each needle represents their expertise.
Step 3: Sewing the Hat (Stitching the Hat)
- Finish the hat: This involves some complicated steps that end up threading the handles through the frame (called “Threading”), using the rims and sub-rims of the “Nuc Con” step. When it comes to this stage, the hat is finished.
Step 4: Finish the hat
Diversity of Vietnamese Conical Hats in Bell Village
begin Hanoi traditional craft village tour Coming to Chuong Village, you come to the true world of Vietnamese conical hats with various designs, sizes and shapes. You can see meticulous mini-sized hats for hanging wind chimes, creative hats covered with daisy-patterned Van Phuc silk… with no wrinkles on the surface. Conical hats in Chuong village, Thanh Oai district are famous for being durable over time
Today, Chuong Village often has domestic and foreign visitors to buy souvenirs and witness How to make Vietnamese conical hats in the traditional way. Along with the Vietnamese ao dai, the Chuong conical hat becomes diverse to best match the beautiful dress. Get and buy yourself a conical hat!
