Sharing with VNA reporters in Pretoria, Yvonne Aringer, a South African, said that it had been a few days since she was given the conical hat (Non La) at the event, and she enjoyed wearing it everywhere she went. A lot of people noticed this and asked her about the hat. She said excitedly, “For the past two days, I have always worn the hat to different places: the market, garden, or just for a short walk. It is really beautiful and convenient”.

Like Yvonne, many guests participating in Vietnamese Pho Day in South Africa 2023 organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa were given conical hats as gifts.

South African friends enjoy taking photos with Non La of Vietnam. Photo: VNA

Stoffel van Zyl said that when he and his wife entered the Hazel Food Market, they were both very impressed with the Asian people wearing their interesting Non La while introducing the traditional food of their country. That was how the married couple learned about the Vietnamese Pho Day event being held in South Africa, and were able to truly enjoy Vietnamese food and try on the delicious dishes.

"I am very happy to not only be able to enjoy famous Vietnamese dishes but also to be given a very beautiful hat with Vietnamese words and a drawing of the landscape. Vietnamese people are thoughtful!” According to him, the Non La and Vietnamese Pho Day in South Africa in 2023 inspired him and his family to travel to Vietnam.

A South African girl with a Vietnamese conical hat. Photo: VNA

Not only South Africans, but many members of the diplomatic corps also shared their impressions of conical hats. A lot of guests from Japan, Korea, and European countries have enjoyed wearing hats with painted images of landscapes such as terraced fields and mountains. The guests also took many photos and expressed their interest in buying more of the hats in South Africa.

Talking to VNA reporters, Cuban Ambassador to South Africa Enrique Orta González said he has loved Non La for a long time. He affirmed, “Non La is a symbol of Vietnam's beauty. Every time I see it, I immediately think of the vast rice fields, bamboo trees, village gates, and friendly Vietnamese people”.

The Ambassador said the Vietnamese Pho Day event in South Africa is to spread the quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine and culture to local people and international friends. Photo: VNA

Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Sy Cuong was also very surprised by the interest and love of South African and international friends for the conical hats.

The Ambassador said the Vietnamese Pho Day event in South Africa is to spread the quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine and culture to local people and international friends.

Many guests participating in Vietnamese Pho Day in South Africa 2023 organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa were given conical hats as gifts. Photo: VNA

Like many other traditional costumes of Vietnam, Non la has its origin, coming from a legend related to the history of rice growing in Vietnam. The story is about a giant woman from the sky who has protected humankind from a deluge of rain. She wore a hat made of four round-shaped leaves to guard against all the rain. After the Goddess was gone, the Vietnamese built a temple to commemorate her as the Rain-shielding Goddess.

Vietnamese tried to make a hat modeled after the Goddess by stitching palm leaves together, now known as Non la. The image of Non la has become strongly associated with peasant lives from the paddy field to boat men and women.

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