In Doc So (Doc So residential group, Huong An Ward), the craft of making Vietnamese conical hats was once practised in nearly every household. Today, the tradition is at risk of disappearing, with only around 20 people in the village still practising the craft. ​

More than just providing accommodation, Ms. Dinh Thi Phuong Thy (born in 1991, Kim Long Ward) brings visitors closer to local culture through everyday experiences such as making conical hats, making traditional Hue cakes, preparing Hue-style meals, and making lotus tea...

The rhythmic clang of hammers rings out from blacksmiths’ forges, the scent of fresh wood fills carpentry workshops, and artisans work with bamboo strips, conical hat frames, needles and thread. Each craft has its own tasks, and each artisan has a personal way of keeping the tradition alive. The resulting products bear the distinctive marks of their craft villages and reflect the diligence and skill of the craftsmen.

In recent years, at many festivals and events in Hue city, Phan Huy Thanh has impressed music lovers with his distinctive songs composed and sung by the musician himself, such as Non (The Conical Hat), An gi o Hue? (What to Eat in Hue), Tu dien Co do (The Ancient Capital Dictionary), etc.

With a conical hat painted with a Ly Dynasty dragon motif rich in Hue’s identity, K-pop star G-Dragon surprised fans when he appeared at Noi Bai Airport. That very hat was a creation of Maries Co., Ltd., founded and led by CEO Ho Thi Suong Lan, a businesswoman from Hue.

Together with the Huong River - Ngu Mountain, the conical hat and the purple ao dai of Hue Women are also a symbolic cultural combo that is deeply connected with the locals in the Ancient Capital. And the poet Bui Giang once “fell in love”: The poetic conical hat / Taking you to Hue City / Sunshine pierces the rim / Revealing the soul of homeland in poetry… (Taking you to the city).

Although she has never attended any formal art school, Pham Thi Tuong Vi (born in 1992, living at 37/7 Ung Binh, Vy Da Ward) has mastered the art of “dancing” the brush on the traditional conical hat. With her skillful hands and passion for colors, familiar landscapes of her homeland vividly come to life, giving each hat its own distinctive beauty.

In Da Lay commune (Da Teh district, Lam Dong province), the new homeland of the people from Hue today, it is hard to recognize the traces of the hardships from nearly half a century ago. The most recognizable feature in this rural area that carries "Hue far away" is the distinctive Hue accent, the conical hats of the elderly women glistening as they shield their kind smiles, and the lively mornings with loc and nam cakes. We arrived at the Da Lay market in the Central Highlands and felt as if we were back in Hue, enjoying street food and chatting at a corner of Dong Ba or An Cuu markets…

With consistent participation and numerous prestigious awards in music competitions, coupled with frequent performances in artistic programs throughout Hue, Phan Huy Thanh, singer, has made a profound impact on audiences. Particularly, the songs about Hue performed by Phan Huy Thanh are vibrant and youthful, such as "Cơm hến" (Mussel Rice), "Trai Huế" (Hue Boys), "Nón" (Conical Hat)... truly bringing a breath of fresh air, contributing to spreading and elevating the imagery of the landscapes and people of Hue to the listeners.