Why is Non La Vietnam so famous in Vietnamese daily life & culture?

Non la in Vietnam (also known as conical hat or rice farmer hat) is one of the most long-standing and special hats in Vietnam. The images of conical hats and long dresses (ao dai) have long become the iconic symbol of Vietnamese culture.

I - How Non La Vietnam was made?

For generations, Vietnamese non la has been used by people to deal with the sun and rain, considered a special symbol of the country’s culture. The hats made from different types of leaves, or woven from straw, and grafted from bamboo are also called Vietnam conical hats. These materials are available in all three regions of the country, so everywhere there are famous hat-making regions and professions. Some villages that make hats can be mentioned such as Chuong village in Hanoi, Hue hat-making in My Lam, Phu Cam, Doc So, Huong So villages...

Thus, the Non La Vietnam is the creativity of the working people in taking advantage of the natural environment to create a headwear, contributing to health protection, coping with the weather and harsh nature. Although the conical hat is simple and rustic, it has helped many people cover under the sun and rain. At the same time, the image of a Vietnamese non la also shows the culture of agricultural residents, contributing to embellishing the flexibility of Vietnamese women. It is now a special piece of traditional Vietnamese ao dai, which has appeared on international catwalks.

II - History of Non La Vietnam

III - Non La Vietnam in culture

Perhaps the slim and slender shape of local women is suitable for a conical hat, so gradually this type of hat has spread throughout the country, from urban to rural areas, from the rich to the poor to use it as an accessory. If the Ao Dai becomes the identity symbol of Vietnamese culture, the conical hat also has its own conquest power, forming a unique cultural symbol.

Non La Vietnam is often accompanied by ao dai, creating the personality, polite and elegant appearance of Vietnamese women. Especially the girls in white ao dai, with their hair tied in a ponytail or shoulder-length, wearing a delicate conical hat, and leisurely cycling after school is an image that goes into poetry and music.

IV - Non la Vietnam in the modern life

Nowadays, people make many kinds and styles of hats, especially the comfortable, neat and trendy fabric hats. However, Vietnam conical hats still quietly exists and develops, and almost every home has a conical hat that is hung in a corner for daily use when going to the market or going to the neighborhood. They also appear in many beautiful, aesthetic and creative forms in terms of sizes, patterns embedded in the hats… Non la Vietnam appear at most tourist attractions in the country, then are bought and then followed the tourists around the world...