Hue, the city of dreams, captivates visitors not only with the ancient beauty of its tombs and temples but also with its traditional craft villages, deeply rooted in cultural identity. Alongside familiar names like Thuy Xuan incense village and Phuoc Tich pottery village, Phu Cam hat village shines as a precious gem, preserving the quintessence and gentle beauty of Hue’s renowned conical poem hat. A trip to Phu Cam hat village will take you back in time, exploring the meticulous steps involved in creating the familiar conical hat, and deeply appreciating the soul and skillful hands of the ancient capital’s people.
Traditional hat village in Hue always attracts tourists. Photo: Ethnic and Development Newspaper
Phu Cam Hat Village: Preserving the Soul of Hue Culture
Phu Cam hat village is peacefully located on the banks of the gentle An Cuu River, in Phuoc Vinh ward, right in the center of Hue city. This convenient location makes it easy for visitors to visit and explore this famous traditional craft village. Coming to Phu Cam hat village, you will not only admire the exquisite conical hats but also immerse yourself in the cultural space imbued with Hue’s identity.
Location of Phu Cam Hat Village
The history of Phu Cam hat village is closely linked to the flow of time in Hue, formed in the 17th century. According to historical records, at that time, a congregation of parishioners came to Phu Cam to live and establish a career. Later, Father Langlois, a Frenchman, was assigned to Hue, established a parish and made great contributions in gathering parishioners, and developing the traditional conical hat making craft here. Since then, the Phu Cam hat craft has taken root, developed, and become an indispensable part of Hue culture. Through historical ups and downs, it still exists and develops to this day, contributing to embellishing the beauty of the ancient capital. The Phu Cam hat is not only an item to shield from sun and rain but also a cultural symbol, the graceful charm of Hue girls.
Beauty of Phu Cam Hat Village
Journey to Discover the Hat Making Process in Phu Cam Village
To create a complete Phu Cam conical hat, artisans must go through many meticulous and elaborate steps. Although the hat looks simple on the outside, behind it is a creative labor process, requiring the skill, meticulousness, and dedication of the craftsman.
1. Selecting and Processing Materials:
The main material for making hats is palm leaves, usually coconut leaves or palm leaves. The palm leaves chosen must be young leaves, white-green in color, neither too old nor too young. After harvesting, the leaves are sun-dried until dry and then incubated in straw or mud to maintain their white color and flexibility. Next, the leaves are dried over charcoal stoves or drying ovens until they reach the right dryness, but still retain their natural green color and softness. This stage requires experience and skill to prevent the leaves from burning or drying out too much.
2. Making the Hat Frame:
The hat frame is made from old bamboo, going through the process of planing, shaving, and bending into hat rings. The craftsman uses 16 different sized rings to shape the hat. This stage requires precision and skill to create a round, balanced hat frame with a beautiful hat shape. A beautiful hat frame is an important factor determining the shape and quality of the hat.
Hat rings in Phu Cam Hat Village
3. Smoothing Leaves and Covering the Hat:
After drying, the palm leaves are ironed on a hot cast iron pan to flatten and soften them. Then, the craftsman uses a cloth pad soaked in hat oil to wipe over the surface of the leaves to create shine and water resistance. The leaves are layered in two layers on the hat frame, each layer from 8 to 9 leaves. The layering of leaves must be even and tight so that the hat does not leak and has high durability.
Hat rings being used to shape a conical hat in Phu Cam Village
4. Stitching the Hat:
This is the most important stage, requiring the highest meticulousness and skill. The hat stitcher uses a needle and transparent nylon thread to sew the palm leaves firmly to the frame. The stitches must be even, firm, and discreet to create a complete hat.
Stitching a conical hat in Phu Cam Hat Village
5. Finishing and Decoration:
After stitching, the hat is trimmed neatly and decorated with patterns and motifs. Phu Cam hats are special in that they often have images and poems imbued with Hue’s characteristics, such as the Perfume River and Ngu Mountain, Thien Mu Pagoda, Trang Tien Bridge, or sweet folk songs, inserted between the two layers of leaves. Under the sunlight, these motifs appear faintly, creating a unique and delicate beauty for the hat.
6. Making Hat Straps:
Phu Cam hat straps are also very diverse and delicate, which can be white silk straps, black brocade straps, or silk straps with many different colors such as Hue purple, young green, and pink. Each type of hat strap brings a unique beauty, contributing to completing the overall beauty of the Phu Cam hat.
Beauty of a conical hat from Phu Cam Hat Village
Phu Cam hats are not only handicraft products but also works of art, containing the soul and feelings of the artisan. Each hat is a story about culture, about Hue people, contributing to the gentle and elegant beauty of the ancient capital.
Close up of the delicate details of a Phu Cam conical hat
Phu Cam Hat Village Travel Tips
Traveling to Phu Cam hat village is an interesting and meaningful experience when visiting Hue. The craft village is located right in the city center, so it is very easy to get to. You can get to the hat village by motorbike, taxi, or bicycle. The best time to visit the hat village is in the morning or cool afternoon.
Coming to Phu Cam hat village, you will:
- Visit hat making workshops: Witness firsthand the meticulous and elaborate hat making process of the artisans.
- Experience hat making: You can try your hand at simple hat making steps under the guidance of a craftsman. This is an interesting and memorable experience.
- Shop for conical hats: Choose to buy beautiful and quality Phu Cam conical hats as gifts for family and friends.
- Interact with artisans: Listen to stories about the craft, about the village, and feel the enthusiasm and hospitality of the local people.
A tourist trying on a conical hat at Phu Cam Hat Village
To make your trip to Phu Cam hat village more complete, you should combine it with visiting other tourist attractions in Hue such as the Imperial City, tombs of the Nguyen emperors, Thien Mu Pagoda, Perfume River and Ngu Mountain, and enjoy Hue’s unique cuisine.
Cuisine and Unique Experiences Around Phu Cam Hat Village
After exploring Phu Cam hat village, you can enjoy famous Hue specialties nearby. The central area of Hue city concentrates many delicious restaurants and eateries with dishes such as Bun Bo Hue (Hue beef noodle soup), Com Hen (mussel rice), Banh Khoai (Hue crispy pancake), Che Hue (Hue sweet soup)…
In addition, you can combine visiting Phu Cam hat village with other cultural experiences such as:
- Listening to Hue folk songs on the Perfume River: Enjoying sweet and deep Hue folk melodies on a dragon boat in the evening.
- Participating in traditional festivals: If you come to Hue during the festival season, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the exciting and unique atmosphere of festivals such as Hue Festival, Hue Nam Temple Festival…
- Exploring Dong Ba Market: The largest traditional market in Hue, where you can buy souvenirs, local specialties and experience the bustling atmosphere of a rural market.
Combine Phu Cam Hat Village Tour with Other Destinations in Hue
Hue not only has Phu Cam hat village but also many other traditional craft villages imbued with unique cultural features. If you have time, you should explore more:
Thuy Xuan Incense Village
Located about 7km from the center of Hue, Thuy Xuan incense village is famous for its traditional incense making craft. Coming here, you will be overwhelmed by the colorful space of incense bundles tied in circles like giant flowers. Thuy Xuan incense village is also a virtual check-in point loved by many tourists.
Thuy Xuan Incense Village, a tourist spot near Phu Cam Hat Village
Sinh Village
Sinh Village, also known as Sinh painting village, is located about 8km from the center of Hue, famous for its folk painting craft. Sinh paintings are imbued with Hue culture, often used during Tet holidays and worship ceremonies. Coming to Sinh village, you will learn about the unique painting process and admire works of art imbued with national identity.
Sinh Painting Village, a tourist spot near Phu Cam Hat Village
Phuoc Tich Pottery Village
Phuoc Tich pottery village is located about 35km from the center of Hue, one of the most famous traditional pottery villages in Vietnam. Phuoc Tich pottery village not only attracts tourists with its exquisite pottery products but also with its peaceful and ancient rural space. Coming here, you can visit pottery kilns, learn about the history of pottery making and try your hand at pottery making.
Phuoc Tich Pottery Village, a tourist spot near Phu Cam Hat Village
In addition, Hue also has many other traditional craft villages such as Thanh Tien paper flower village, Bao La bamboo weaving village, and Ke Mon jewelry village. Each craft village has its own unique characteristics, contributing to the diversity and richness of Hue culture.
Conclusion
Traveling to Phu Cam hat village is a meaningful cultural exploration journey, helping you better understand the traditional beauty and soul of Hue people. The Phu Cam conical hat is not only a familiar item but also a cultural symbol, the pride of the people of the ancient capital. Come and experience it, to fully feel the beauty of Phu Cam hat village and discover other interesting things that dreamy Hue brings.