Vietnamese Hat

Vietnamese Hat

The Vietnamese Hat, its name is Non La

The Vietnamese Hat known as Non La (Nón Lá written in Vietnamese) in Vietnam but also called Asian Hat or Conical Hat, is together with Vietnamese dress (Ao dai), one of the most notorious and visible symbols of Vietnam.
The literal translation of Non La into English is Conical Hat, but many people also called it Asian Hat because many other countries use this kind of hat (ex: Cambodia).

Pictures of the Vietnamese Hat (Non la)


When we talk about the Vietnamese Hat, everyone thinks in a conical hat, made of straw. However, few people know that this type of hat is used almost entirely by women, although in the central and southern Vietnam, you can see men using it.

There is man version of the Vietnamese Hat, his appearance is very similar to an African Safari hat. It is easy to see, especially in the north. In Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam is quite common to find men on the streets wearing the Vietnamese Hat.
This is the appearance of the Vietnamese Hat for men.

Vietnamese Hat for men. Hanoi Vietnam
Man riding a bicycle wearing Vietnamese Hat for men. Hanoi, Vietnam.

Men version of Vietnamese Hat. Hanoi (Vietnam)
Men version of Vietnamese Hat. Hanoi (Vietnam)

Uses of the Vietnamese Hat


Women on a bicycle wearing Vietnamese Hat. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Women on a bicycle wearing Vietnamese Hat. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
The main use of the Vietnamese Hat is to protect oneself from the sun. We should not forget that the climate in Vietnam, because Vietnam is a tropical country, is very hot. The Weather in Hanoi Vietnam, is more pleasant then other points of Vietnam geography. For instance, the Weather in Ho Chi Minh City is hotter, the average is about 5ºC more, because Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh City) is located on the south of Vietnam.

Taditionally Vietnam has been a rural country, where cultivation of paddy rice was widespread. Every single Vietnamese farmer use the Vietnamese Hat in their daily tasks, because the Vietnamese Hat not only protects from the sun but protects from the rain too.

Vietnam climate is tropical, it means there are only 2 seasons: dry season and rainy season. In addition to the fact the ideal feminine beauty standard is white skin, Vietnamese Hat (Non La) is the best ally during the hottest months to protect the white skin against the sun and during the rainy season, to protect from the rain.

Vietnamese Hat is made of leaves or bark held together by thread. The outside part of the Non La is covered with varnish or a protective layer to keep the Vietnamese Hat in optimal condition as long as possible.
In the next set of pictures, you can appreciate the Vietnamese Hat in detail.
As a fact of curiosity we will say that Vietnamese people use the Vietnamese Hat to collect rainwater.

Hoi An Vietnamese fishermen wearing Vietnamese Hat
Hoi An Vietnamese fishermen wearing Vietnamese Hat.

Vietnamese Hat in rice paddy
Vietnamese Hat in rice paddy.

Picture gallery of the Vietnamese Hat


On a tourist visit around Vietnam you can say thousand of Vietnamese Hat in many places used by a variety of picturesque characters. Fisherman, farmers, country people, boatman, sellers and much more. Improvised models on the streets of Vietnam.

Women wearing Vietnamese Hat on a biclycle
Women wearing Vietnamese Hat on a biclycle. Hanoi.

Vietnamese woman on a bicycle with Vietnamese Hat
Vietnamese woman on a bicycle with Vietnamese Hat.

Street seller with Vietnamese Hat
Street seller with Vietnamese Hat in Hoi An (Vietnam)

Boatman with Vietnamese Hat
Boatman with Vietnamese Hat.

Vietnamese country people with Vietnamese Hat
Vietnamese country people with Vietnamese Hat. Ricefields in the north of Vietnam.

Rain and the Vietnamese Hat
Rain and the Vietnamese Hat. Market of Halong bay.

Vietnamese women riding bicycles with Vietnamese Hat
Vietnamese women riding bicycles with Vietnamese Hat. Hanoi.

Vietnamese fishermen with Vietnamese Hat
Vietnamese fishermen with Vietnamese Hat (Hoi An).

Vietnamese girl with conical hat
Vietnamese girl with conical hat

Vietnamese Hat in Hoi An
Funny old man with Vietnamese Hat in Hoi An.

The use of Vietnamese and Non hat has been relegated to the rural environment and the working class. In big cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), there aren't many of these hats. Partly because of the evolution of the country, and also because a Vietnamese Non La or hat is not very suitable for riding motorcycles in Vietnam (the Vietnam Bikes are the favorite means of transport).
Young people do not usually use the hat, not even the children who attend school daily.

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