{"id":3216,"date":"2026-06-20T18:51:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T09:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/?post_type=news&p=3216"},"modified":"2026-06-20T18:51:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T09:51:00","slug":"nonla-ishowspeed-souvenir","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/news\/nonla-ishowspeed-souvenir\/","title":{"rendered":"Non La Appears in a Global Broadcast, the Day a Souvenir Reached the World"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vietnam's traditional conical hat \"non la\" appeared in a World Cup-related livestream by one of the world's biggest streamers, IShowSpeed, becoming a major topic on social media within Vietnam. The trigger was the FIFA World Cup that opened in the United States in June 2026. IShowSpeed, known for loving Ronaldo, was livestreamed worldwide getting hyped in the stands holding a non la painted with a picture of Ronaldo, given to him by a Vietnamese fan. Why has the non la\u2014a modest presence as a Vietnam-travel souvenir\u2014drawn global attention now? And where can Japanese travelers buy and experience this \"souvenir that's a hot topic right now\"? We dig down to the practical info.<\/p>\n

What happened<\/h2>\n

According to Vietnamese media such as VnExpress, in June 2026 IShowSpeed watched Portugal's opening match (against DR Congo) in person at NRG Stadium in Houston, USA. On that occasion he appeared wearing a single non la given to him by a fan living in Da Nang, central Vietnam. On the hat's surface was a hand-painted portrait of Cristiano Ronaldo, whom he adores. When Portugal scored first, he leapt from his seat and screamed, and the scene spread worldwide via livestream.<\/p>\n

In this tournament, IShowSpeed teamed up with FIFA, Fox Sports, and YouTube to commentate on matches while touring the three host countries (USA, Mexico, Canada). His subscriber count is on the order of 54 million on YouTube alone. The significance of a Vietnamese folk craft appearing in front of that camera not by chance but as a \"fan's gift\" is not small.<\/p>\n

The background of the non la, a \"modest souvenir\"<\/h2>\n

The non la is a conical hat woven from bamboo and palm-family leaves, a living tool used daily in rural areas and markets across Vietnam. For tourists it's a classic souvenir available from around 500 yen, but as bulky and of little practical use it was shunned, tending to be overshadowed by \"edible souvenirs\" such as pho, coffee, and dried fruit.<\/p>\n

What's new about this exposure is that the non la went out to the world not as a \"practical item\" or a \"plain folk craft\" but as a one-of-a-kind artwork painted with Ronaldo's portrait. The hat hand-painted by a local painting artisan was born from the overlap of Vietnam's traditional techniques and modern pop culture. If a plain hat is a classic souvenir anyone can buy, a painted one-of-a-kind carries a story belonging only to that person. The moment a souvenir gains context, it becomes something talked about on social media.<\/p>\n

The ripple power by the numbers<\/h2>\n

We organize the figures we could corroborate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>\nFigure<\/th>\nSources<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
IShowSpeed's YouTube subscribers<\/td>\nAbout 54 million<\/td>\nafamily.vn<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
His Instagram followers<\/td>\nAbout 52 million<\/td>\nafamily.vn<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plays of the 2026 World Cup cheer song<\/td>\nOver 500,000 within 2 hours of release<\/td>\nafamily.vn<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The match he appeared at<\/td>\nPortugal vs. DR Congo (opening match)<\/td>\nVnExpress \/ inkl<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Venue<\/td>\nNRG Stadium (Houston, USA)<\/td>\nafamily.vn \/ win.gg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

VnExpress reports that the fan who gave the gift ordered several painted hats from an artisan and traveled all the way to the United States. We won't assert individual spending amounts in this article since the source is limited to one outlet, but the motive\u2014that a single individual went to the trouble and cost to deliver their country's culture to a world stage\u2014is consistent across the various outlets.<\/p>\n

Local reactions<\/h2>\n

On Vietnamese social media, voices delighting that the country's hat appeared in one of the world's biggest livestreams came one after another. Reactions like \"not just pho and ao dai, but the non la too can reach the world\" and posts praising the giver's initiative spread. On the other hand, from tourism and product circles the view emerged that such an accidental viral moment shouldn't be left as a one-off but should be connected to recognition of the production region and painting experiences. What reached the world stopped at the name \"non la\"; information about the maker\u2014from which region, painted by whom\u2014didn't get through. It's a level-headed point that even as cultural outreach it was a success, the channel returning value to local artisans' work and income is still thin.<\/p>\n

Why a one-of-a-kind non la reached the world<\/h2>\n

The reasons this viral moment happened can be organized into three, in line with the subject of the non la.<\/p>\n

First,the medium was a fan's voluntary gift<\/strong>. Precisely because it wasn't a corporate ad but a hand-painted one-of-a-kind made by one individual out of passion, the streamer himself wore it and it stirred viewer empathy. Second,a globally shared context\u2014Ronaldo's portrait\u2014was placed on the hat<\/strong>. A plain non la on its own hardly crosses borders, but the moment a global icon was painted on it, it became \"translation-free\" content. Third,the few-second image of him wearing the hat and screaming conveys across languages<\/strong>. It's easy to spread secondarily as a clip, and the non la's distinctive silhouette stood out strongly on screen. What reached the world was less the non la itself than the combination of \"Vietnam's hat \u00d7 Ronaldo \u00d7 hand-painted.\"<\/p>\n

Takeaways for Japanese travelers<\/h2>\n

So how can Japanese travelers enjoy this \"souvenir that's a hot topic right now\"? The one who gave this hat was a fan in central Da Nang, and the non la is known to be produced around Hue in central Vietnam. But the channel for tourists to experience hand-painting themselves is best set up in the south, in Ho Chi Minh City, where shops and classes cluster. If you want to recreate a one-of-a-kind like the \"Ronaldo hat\" on your trip, a painting workshop in Ho Chi Minh City becomes a realistic option.<\/p>\n

Beyond just buying a ready-made non la at a market, you can experience painting your own to bring back a one-of-a-kind. Around Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City there are workshops where you can paint a non la while learning the techniques of Dong Ho woodblock printing, letting you turn a travel memory from a \"souvenir you buy\" into a \"souvenir you make.\" There's also the option of buying a plain non la cheaply and painting it at home, but receiving an artisan's guidance on the ground gives both a higher level of finish and greater experience value.<\/p>\n

Practical info: buying a non la and doing a painting experience<\/h2>\n

How you choose changes depending on whether you quickly buy a ready-made one or take time to make a one-of-a-kind. If you prioritize convenience, buying at a market; if you prioritize memories and talking-point value, a painting experience suits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>\nDetails<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Plain non la (market purchase)<\/td>\nFrom around 500 yen as a guide. Available at major markets such as Ben Thanh Market and Dong Xuan Market<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Painting-experience studio<\/td>\nHeld at art studios near Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hours<\/td>\nRoughly 9:00\u201320:00 (varies by store)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Experience fee guide<\/td>\nFrom 36 US dollars (about 5,700 yen). There are plans that include art supplies, instruction, and tea or light refreshments<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Time required \/ bringing it home<\/td>\nThe hat you paint can be taken home on the spot. Allowing about half a day including drying time gives peace of mind<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

What you'll want to check before visiting is whether reservations are required in the busy season and the time required on the day. Experience-type activities are popular and slots fill up quickly, so booking in advance is safest. The conical shape crushes easily when taking it home, so planning around carry-on is safe. Prices and hours vary, so check the latest information, and use 10,000 VND \u2252 60 yen as an exchange guide.<\/p>\n

Summary and next actions<\/h2>\n

The non la's world debut became an incident that asks \"what to set up next\" for Vietnamese tourism and products. If it ends as a one-off topic, its reach vanishes in a few days, but if connected to painting experiences and outreach about production regions, it can be established as a culture-experience travel product. If you're planning a trip, we recommend devoting half a day of your Ho Chi Minh City stay to a painting experience and bringing home a \"non la all your own.\" Buying one extra plain hat at a market means you can also use it for painting after returning home or as a souvenir for friends. Now, while it's a hot topic, is a good chance to bring home Vietnam's hat along with the whole travel experience.<\/p>\n

Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n

Where can I buy a non la?<\/h3>\n

They're widely sold at markets in major cities, such as Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi. Plain ones are available from around 500 yen as a guide. Painted one-of-a-kinds can be bought at painting-experience studios and souvenir shops.<\/p>\n

How much budget and time does a painting experience need?<\/h3>\n

Fees start from around 36 US dollars (about 5,700 yen), and plans that include art supplies, an artisan's instruction, and tea or light refreshments are common. Allowing about half a day including drying time lets you enjoy it with room to spare. The finished hat can be taken home on the spot.<\/p>\n

Are there tips for bringing a bulky non la back to Japan?<\/h3>\n

Because the conical shape crushes easily, carry-on is reassuring. Packing cushioning material inside to keep the shape lets you carry it safely. For multiple hats, stacking them into one makes them easier to handle.<\/p>\n

Related reading<\/h2>\n