Vietnam is a tropical country characterized both with rainy and dry seasons. Clearly, Nón Lá is essential for the people to protect themselves from heat which could last for months, and sometimes even reaching 40 degrees Celsius in intensity, and also during long periods of enduring rain. Though the Nón Lá has appeared even from the earlier days of the country’s history, no one can precisely trace back as to when the conical head piece exactly originated. Images of the Nón Lá, however, are evident on the Trong dong Ngoc Lu (Ngoc Lu bronze drum) and Thap Dong Dao Thinh (large bronze cylindrical jar of Dao Thinh) known to date back some 2,500 to 3,000 years ago indicating that the hat had already been utilized during the period, or even earlier. Nón Lá had in fact existed as a daily essential of the Vietnamese from thousands of years ago and even in legends and fictions handed down throughout the generations.
Nón Lá is popular throughout the country and is commonly found in famous villages and areas across the North, South and Central of Vietnam. Hats made from each region exhibits special characteristics which translates the distinctiveness of the locals in that particular area. The Lai Chau hat, for instance, is a symbol of the Thai ethnic minority; the Tay ethnic group is famous for red Cao Bang hats; while Binh Dinh province is popular for its thick Go Cang hats; and Quang Binh earned a reputation for making the elegant, thin hats indicating the ancient capital Hue, known the Ba On hats.
Chuong village of Thanh Oai, Ha Tay province is known as the most famous land of conical hats. The village produces thousands of hats per day amounting to millions per year, all used either for personal, souvenir and export purposes. The village has a reputation for crafting the skillfully-made, well-fitting, durable and the most beautiful Nón Lá in the Northern Delta. Probably every family in Chuong village is involved in the trade. It takes decades to master the techniques which are handed down to the next generations. Amazingly, this tiny village has maintained such reputation for the past three centuries and has remarkably preserved this interesting cultural aspect of the country.
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