SERIES: OCCUPATION STORIES - LIFE STORIES - PEOPLE STORIES
PART 5: THE HAT MAKER – ONE HAT, ONE LIFE
In the peaceful countryside of Quy Hậu commune (Lệ Thủy district, Quảng Trị), the familiar sounds of life still resonate every morning: the cheerful laughter and chatter, mixed with the clattering of the hat frame. In that place, the craft of making leaf hats is no longer just a “job,” but has become a part of the very essence – a beauty that has been intertwined with the people for generations.
The people of Quy Hậu often say, “Making hats is done by hand, but keeping the craft is done by heart.”
Indeed, this profession is not for the hurried. Each stitch, each piece of thread, each leaf chosen requires patience, meticulousness, and love for the craft. Just a slight misalignment of a thread can distort the hat. Young leaves can tear easily, while old leaves may break. Yet, through the hands of the artisans, those fragile white leaves transform into round, pristine hats – a gentle symbol of Vietnamese women.
In Lệ Thủy, the leaf hat not only shields from the sun and rain but also accompanies countless generations of women – from the market-going girl, the mother in the fields, to the elderly sitting by the house. Behind each hat is a life story: the breath of the countryside, the drops of sweat falling in the midday sun, the gentle smiles in the evening market.
People say that each leaf hat is a piece of the countryside's soul, a witness to the perseverance, patience, and love for the homeland of the people of Quy Hậu. Although life today is different from the past, in this place, there are still skilled hands and passionate hearts that are daily preserving the craft, maintaining the traditional beauty that cannot fade.
And when you visit Lệ Thủy, try to stop by Quy Hậu – where the leaf hats are still woven with love and memories. Who knows, you may realize that a hat is not just for wearing, but also for feeling – feeling the rustic soul of the countryside, feeling the deep human affection just like the land and wind of this Central region.
The craft in Quy Hậu – where the leaf hat is not just a product, but a story about a lifetime of preserving the soul of Vietnam.
