With the resurgence of Vietnamese traditional clothing in recent years, 23-year-old Tieu Tuong Huy from Go Vap District has been actively involved in the movement. He subsequently began designing accessories, hats, and headwear to complement these outfits.

"I realized the conical hat is a familiar symbol, so I wanted to incorporate cultural elements, blending tradition and modernity, to share it more widely with international tourists," Huy said.

About six months ago, Huy officially launched his collection of conical hats featuring stylized patterns of bronze drums, dragons, phoenixes, and lotus flowers.

The dragon-shaped conical hat, named "Mang Xa - May Nhu Y" (Auspicious Serpent - Clouds of Desire), draws inspiration from the Nguyen Dynasty's royal court with its four-clawed dragon and auspicious cloud motifs. Huy wears the hat, paired with traditional clothing and accessories, while strolling through Ben Thanh Market.

The most popular hat Huy creates features a stylized lotus flower design, arranged harmoniously according to artistic principles.

The conical hat depicts patterns from Dong Son bronze drums, featuring images of the Lac bird, the sun, and warriors.

"The most challenging aspect of the design process is arranging the layout and moderating the decorative patterns to express the idea without compromising the traditional shape of the hat," Huy shared.

Huy primarily crafts the conical hats in his free time. Initially, he experimented with various materials like wax paper, plastic bottles, and fabric to shape the hats. Ultimately, he chose jute fabric as the primary material due to its durability, sturdiness, malleability, and water resistance.

The jute fabrics printed with dragons, lotus flowers, and bronze drums are designed by Huy himself and then outsourced for production. Each motif is meticulously cut and glued onto the hat.

For the lotus motif, each petal is individually adorned with beads. On average, each hat takes nearly half a day to complete.

After Huy posted his stylized conical hats on social media, he received numerous purchase inquiries. He sells each hat for approximately 300,000 VND (around 13 USD).

Huy's products are being ordered by young people and tourism companies as gifts for international visitors. In the future, he plans to create new designs incorporating elements from traditional Vietnamese crafts, such as ceramics, weaving, and checkered scarves.

In addition to conical hats, Huy also creates more elaborate items like royal crowns to refine his skills.

In the photo, Huy is crafting two replicas of the "Cuu Long Thong Thien" (Nine Dragons Reaching Heaven) crown worn by Nguyen Dynasty emperors. It took him two to three months to complete these pieces after consulting historical documents and visiting museums.

Huy's replicas of the Nguyen emperors' "Cuu Long Thong Thien" crowns are made from fabric, clay, plastic, and paper.

One product is inspired by the hat of the Qing emperor. To ensure historical accuracy in his creations, Huy actively participates in research groups and communities passionate about ancient culture.

The 23-year-old artisan also crafts various accessories like hairpins, bracelets, and decorative tags to complement traditional attire.

In the future, Huy plans to pursue further design studies to enhance his skills and develop new designs. "I hope my products can inspire young people to appreciate Vietnamese culture," Huy said.

Quynh Tran