Non la: the traditional conical hat of Vietnam

The conical hat or "nón lá" in Vietnamese, is really one of the emblems of Vietnam. An essential accessory for Vietnamese peasants to protect themselves from the sun and rain while working in the rice paddies, the conical hat is as old as Vietnamese civilization itself. Discover all the secrets of this iconic conical hat, an inseparable element of Vietnamese culture that has experienced a resurgence in recent years.

Written by Oliver PHUNG (Local expert)Updated on 10-07-2025

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1. History of Non La, the traditional Vietnamese conical hat

Non la, which literally means "leaf hat" in Vietnamese, is a conical hat usually made from the leaves of the latan tree and used by Vietnamese peasants to protect themselves from the sun, also from the rain. The use of the Vietnamese conical hat dates back to the Bronze Age, in the first millennium BC, that is, almost 3000 years ago!

In addition, it is possible to see the bronze drum Ngoc Lu in the Vietnamese History Museum in Hanoi, whose sides and upper parts are engraved with drawings representing conical hats whose function was to invoke rain to give good harvests. The Ngoc Lu drum is considered one of the most important objects of the Vietnamese Dong Son culture of the Bronze Age, a civilization that achieved many achievements around the second and third centuries B.C. in the Red River Delta.

2. The Types of Conical Hats of Vietnam Through the Ages

Non la was actually used as a headdress from the thirteenth century, i.e. during the Tran dynasty. It was a very large hat, similar to a round box lid and measuring between sixty and seventy centimeters in diameter. The name of this impressive hat was nón ba tầm.

It was worn mainly by North Vietnamese women and was often depicted in sketches or drawings by Pierra Huard, a professor of medicine in Hanoi and a specialist in the history of science in India and the Far East, and the Vietnamese specialist Maurice Durand, director of the French School of the Far East. From the 1930s when the conical hat was more practical and was imposed in almost all of Vietnam and dethroned the non ba tam, relegating it to the rank of national relic.

An inseparable element of Vietnamese culture, Non la appears in many popular verses or tales told by elders to their grandchildren. In addition, non la is present in many myths and legends that recount the founding of the Vietnamese nation. One legend has it that the Genie of Gióng, a boy who suddenly became a giant, rode on an iron horse with his armor and conical iron hat to scare off the attackers from the North.

The worship of the goddess madra Tho Mai takes place in temples where the altars are crowned with multicolored conical hats. Nowadays the conical hat is worn almost exclusively by Vietnamese women. On the imperial side, it was not once the prerogative of the soldiers. Even Emperor Khai Dinh used to wear one, lacquered and covered in metal pieces.

3. The use of conical hats in the daily life of Vietnamese people

Non la is the conical hat widely used by Vietnamese peasants. Simple and light, non la is perfectly adapted to work in the fields, especially in rice fields because it can protect farmers from the sun, also from the rain. It is mainly women who wear the non la because it allows them to protect themselves from tanning, since in Vietnam and more generally in Asia, having white skin is an aesthetic canon. When making color, the conical hat can also serve as a fan.

In the city, it has not become popular again in recent years and is worn as a fashion accessory. Vietnamese women like to wear the non la with "Ao dai", the elegant traditional Vietnamese silk costume. As an integral part of Vietnamese folklore, non la is also very common in many cultural activities such as theatre, fashion shows or traditional performances. In addition, a traditional dance is dedicated to him, the Mua Non La dance or "dance of the conical hat".

The traditional Vietnamese conical hat has also become an increasingly popular decorative element. It can be used to decorate a wall as a lampshade or even as a display to serve food. In some Vietnamese restaurants, egg rolls and other specialties are presented in an inverted conical hat.

4. How is Vietnamese conical hat made?

The Vietnamese conical hat is one hundred percent environmentally friendly, as it is made exclusively from plant materials. At first glance, it may seem simple, but the manufacture of the conical hat requires no less than 10 steps and almost 4 hours of work. Made entirely by hand, it is not usually made with latanier leaves, but some Vietnamese conical hats can be made with very smooth pineapple or coconut leaves.

To make a non la, you first have to choose the leaves with care. They must be quite young. The leaves should be dried and then ironed. The bamboo stems are cut to make the conical cap frame, which is designed on a solid wood conical structure model.

The leaves are then sewn to the frame with bamboo or nylon threads. To make the hat resistant to termites and mold, it needs to be smoked. Finally, a ribbon joins the two ends of the hat and slides under the chin to attach it to the wearer's head.

Non la is a traditional Vietnamese family craft. Throughout the country, numerous villages are engaged in the manufacture of the Vietnamese conical hat. We invite you to discover the diligent work of small family units that have been perpetuating this ancient craft for generations, such as in the village of Chuong, located at the gates of Hanoi, nestled in the rice paddies of the Red River Delta.

• 4.1 Chuong Village, the oldest non-manufacturing village in northern Vietnam

For 300 years, its inhabitants have been designing the famous Vietnamese conical hat. Wandering through the maze of streets and alleys of this typical Red River village, you will be able to observe the diligent work of local artisans. Every morning on the 4th, 10th, 14th, 20th, 24th, and 30th polka dots, Chuong Village hosts a cone hat market where people flock to buy their famous conical hats.

Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is another major center for making conical hats. City of Nguyen Dynasty emperors, mandarins, scholars, and poets, Hue's conical hats stand out from all others because local artisans insert poems between latanier sheets that can be read for transparency. This conical hat is called "non bai tho". This type of hat originates from the village of Tay Ho, famous for its hat making in the sixties.

A local craftsman who was also a poet is the one who had the idea of writing poems and putting them inside the helmet. This idea became popular and was quickly adopted by other manufacturers. Another specialty of Hue that underlines the refined traditions of its imperial past is the manufacture of conical hats with embroidered motifs.

Artisans embroider typical motifs of the city of Hue, such as the ancient royal citadel, the Thien Mu pagoda or the famous Huong (Perfume) River. In Hue, you can visit conical hat workshops or go to the large Dong Ba market, where all kinds of conical hats are sold in large quantities.

5. Where to buy a conical hat in Vietnam?

A true emblem of the country, the conical hat is one of the most popular souvenirs that travelers like to bring back from their travels. You will find them for sale almost everywhere in Vietnam, especially in tourist cities. But if you want to buy a quality product made by artisans, it is better to go to the aforementioned Chuong village and the villages specialized in non la manufacturing around Hue.

The small country markets are also a good place to buy a traditional conical hat. When buying your tapered hat, make sure it has at least three layers of latanier and tight seams to make it sturdier.

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