Go Gong town, which is 300 kilometer far from Quy Nhon city, has a very special market, where conical hats are the only product traded. Some elderly people said it was set up over 300 years ago and there were many folk songs about it. The market time takes place from 2 am to 5 am and the sellers use oil lamps around the market.
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The palm leaves, material used to make conical hat, are softened and dried before being used
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The making of conical hats is a traditional craft in Go Gang. It is a hard work requiring little start-up capital. 90-year-old Nguyen Thi Du, a local elderly, said, “I don’t know when it is started, but it has fed many generations in the town.”
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A skillful person is able to make 5-7 conical hats per day and each is sold for 10.000 VND
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According to another local woman, Vuong Thi Lan, a skillful person is able to make 5-7 conical hats per day. It doesn’t offer high income, but many still do it during the leisure time after harvest. The market is still busy as the making of conical hats is still attractive.
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The making of conical hats requires many steps and cautiousness
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Many villages located near the market automatically specialize in the making of conical hats. Phu Gia village is a typical example, which is famous for so called “non ngua” product. This type of conical hat used to be worn by officials and rich people in the past.
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Local people often gather to make conical hat until mid-night during their free time
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It seems that villages always spend sleepless nights. During their free time, particularly in the evening, the local people gather to make conical hats until mid-night. They then bring conical hats to the market and spend the whole night there.
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