Unique palm leaf hat of Tay people in Ban Lien commune
For many generations, the palm leaf hat has been the familiar item of the Tay ethnic group, Ban Lien commune (Bac Ha district), now it has become the unique cultural product of the locality associated with community tourism. |
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Mrs. Vang Thi Tanh makes palm leaf hat. |
Along with the traditional clothes woven from linen, dyed indigo, the palm leaf hat has added beauty and grace to the Tay women in Ban Lien. Three years ago, in Ban Lien commune, there were only about 4 households still making palm leaf hats, mainly the elderly. The hats made are sold at the commune market and the central market of Bac Ha district. Since 2019, when supported by the State under the program to develop community tourism, Ban Lien commune has established the knitting group with similar interests to participate in making palm leaf hats to serve tourism.
Ms. Vang Thi Duong, Team leader of the knitting group in Doi 2 village, said: The palm leaf hat is an indispensable item of the Tay women in Ban Lien. Currently, the palm hat is sold on the market for from 60,000 to 80,000 VND per piece, depending on the type of large or small. The hat in the local Tay community, in addition to wearing in the rain and sun, also plays an important role in the wedding ceremony. The hat is given to the bride when she returns to her husband's house and a souvenir passed by the parents to the daughter-in-law with the wish that the child will be a pious and loving person. The hat is also used in dance performances in the national cultural performances... Especially, in recent years, palm leaf hats have become gifts and decorations that are loved by many people, tourists to buy.
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| Hat is familiar items of Tay women in Ban Lien |
To make durable and beautiful palm leaf hat, it takes a lot of work and meticulous stitching techniques. Holding in her hand pre-processed palm leaves, Vang Thi Tanh, 76 years old, who has a lot of experience in knitting palm leaf hats in Ban Lien said: In the past, according to the Tay culture, a young girl would be taught the technique of knitting palm leaf hats by her grandparents and parents, but now there are very few young people who can make beautiful hats.
Mrs.Tanh also shared, in order to have a beautiful palm hat, workers must go to the palm forest to choose leaves that are large enough and thin, then bring them to dry in the sun, creating the necessary toughness for the leaves, then to the stage of cutting leaves and pressing them flat, then knitting hats. The hat cover line is made of bamboo to ensure both flexibility and durability. When knitting, the maker needs to be skillful to avoid the leaves being torn or unevenly divided, making it difficult to knit. Sewing thread in the past was used with jute yarn, today there is line thread that is both strong and creates beautiful stitches. The last and most important stage is to preserve the hat so that it is durable, the Tay people often hang it on the kitchen attic to avoid rot and termites before putting it into use.
Ms. Vang Thi Duong, Team leader of the knitting group in Doi 2 village, said: The good news for the Tay people in Ban Lien is that all departments and divisions have been interested in organizing training courses to improve their skills in knitting palm leaves hats and some products made from palm leaves such as palm hats, palm leaf bags and baskets, etc. As a result, community tourism workers have the conditions to produce household products and products for local tourism, contributing to preserve traditional culture, and at the same time improving the people's living standards.
