A nón Ba tầm is a traditional Vietnamese flat palm hat. [1] [2] [3] It should be distinguished from other traditional Vietnamese headwear,such as the conical nón lá and the coiled turban ( khăn vấn ).
The nón ba tầm is traditionally worn by Vietnamese women as an accessory to elegant garments,in contrast to the more practical clothing associated with farm work.
The hats traditionally worn by shamans featured silver ornaments hanging from silk strings attached around the brim. [4]
According to documents from the French at the end of the nineteenth century,ba tầm was translated into French as Le chapeau de trois tầm (literally "the hat of three tầm"). [5] [6] A tầm (尋) was an ancient unit of measurement used in China,Korea,Japan,and Vietnam,equivalent to an arm span. According to VũTrung Tùy Bút,the ba tầm hat is a combination of the styles of the dậu,mền giải,and viên cơ hats. The hat has been mentioned in literature since the 18th century,but its origin may be much older.
Ba tầm hats are covered with palm leaves or gồi leaves and are shaped like a parasol or mushroom. They have a flat top,with a cone diameter of about 70–80 cm and a brim that is 10–12 cm high or more. The inside of the hat is reinforced with a funnel-shaped rim called a khua or khùa (摳) to help secure it on the user's head. [8] Additionally,colorful thao threads are often tied to the brim of the hat as a decorative charm.
The term nón quai thao is often used to refer to a nón ba tầm. This association stems from an improved design by writer Kim Lân and his son,making the hat more compact and suitable for artistic performances. This modified version was later adopted by female Quan họ singers,which contributed to its increased popularity. [9]