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).

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.

Among the traditional handicrafts, the nón lá (conical hat) has become a cultural specialty for tourists when visiting Hue. It is necessary to have a suitable direction for restoring and further promoting the craft of making conical hats through community-based tourism activities.

On the afternoon of April 26th, Ms. Ngo Thi Ai Huong - Vice Chairman of Huong Thuy District People's Committee, announced that the Nón lá (conical hats) of Van The (from Van The village, Thuy Thanh commune) would represent Hue's conical hats at the 9th Hue Traditional Craft Festival in 2023.