The Vietnamese Leaf Hat

The Leaf Hat is adequately appropriate for hot weather, so it is popular and convenient in Vietnam. The hat has the name Leaf hat" because it is creatively made from leaves, the simple materials of nature. These young leaves are brought from the softest trees and are exposed to the dew for one night so when dried, it is still soft enough to be flattened. The hat usually consists of 16 to 18 rims made from a special kind of bamboo. These rims are shaped thinly into conical-form, so the hat is also called the cone hat because of its shape. The leaves are sewn into all rims solely by hand. Finally, the hat is trimmed and painted with a coat of attar old to keep it clean, smooth, and water-proof. The hat has been around almost as long as the country and is worn by men and women everywhere. The leaf hat not only fits the festival air with the long dress but also is fairly convenient when working on the farms under the sun. People may use it as a basket if they turn it up-side-down, or sometimes they may wave it like a fan when the weather is too hot. In Hue especially, the hat makers insert poems into the weaves and the poem can only be seen when the hat is held up to the sunshine making it even more special. The more lighter the hat is, the more elegant the look. Vietnamese girls wear thin leaf hat like a little umbrella to protect themselves from sun or rain. Foreign travelers like wearing the leaf hat in their tours. The leaf hats are familar and close to Vietnamese, so they have the missing feeling when they they go aboard as if missing their relatives. Nowsaday, the leaf hat is not only a symbol of Vietnamese girls but also has become a part of the spirit of Vietnam, the nation.