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More than a trading place, the market is a social hub where locals meet, talk and preserve long-standing traditions. Photo: Vân Chi/VNA
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The Chuong hat market runs from around 4:30 to 7:00 a.m. on designated lunar days each month. Photo: Vân Chi/VNA
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Finished hats are priced between 40,000 and 150,000 VND, depending on quality and craftsmanship.
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A wide range of materials and tools, such as frames, bamboo rings, palm leaves, nylon thread and sewing supplies, are sold at the market. Photo: Vân Chi/VNA
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Each Chuong hat features 16 rings, including one thicker ring that forms the brim. Photo: Vân Chi/VNA
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Thin bamboo strips are shaped into rings, forming the structure of the hat. Photo: Vân Chi/VNA
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From the initial frame, artisans carry out a series of meticulous steps including preparing the leaves, shaping the rings, forming the hat, stitching, inserting the inner lining and finishing the brim to complete a conical hat. Photo: Vân Chi/VNA
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Outside the pagoda yard, traders sell la lui (young palm leaves) - the primary material for making Chuong conical hats. Sourced from Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh provinces, the leaves are treated by rubbing with sand and sun-dried for two to three days until they turn a silvery white, becoming soft and easy to shape. They are then bundled into bunches of 50 to 100 leaves, priced between 65,000 and 200,000 VND (3 - 8 USD) depending on quality. Photo: Vân Chi/VNA
