Truong Thanh Dinh (Photo: VNA) Hanoi(VNA) - Vietnamese people are becoming more open to getting tattoos , whichwas regarded as a taboo in Vietnam for decades.
When Truong Thanh Dinh came home with a tattoo on his chest, his mother yelledat him, saying that only gangsters get tattoos on their body.
Dinh, 23, explainedto his mother how much he loves her and that he got her portrait tattooed as areminder of her motivation in everything he does.
“My mother hasbecome much more interested in the tattoo,” Dinh told the Vietnam News Agency.
“Sometimes, shelooks at it and wonders how one can make a tattoo look so real, so much likeher.”
In Vietnam, tattoosused to hold largely negative connotations in society. People typicallyassociated tattoos with gangs and criminals.
Now, things changed.
Quang Pham, a Hanoian tattoo artist, said tattoos have now become widelyaccepted as an art form rather than a stigma. Some tattoos are even seen tomake positive changes in their wearers.
Hanoi teenagerNguyen Quang Huy has a Buddha tattoo on his shoulder.
Huy said he has hadto face numerous difficulties in his life and the tattoo marked a turning pointin his life.
“Since having it(the Buddha tattoo) done, I feel like I carry the symbol of good luck,” hesaid.
“Many of my friendsget tattoos to mark an important event in their lives. Some get motivationalquotes.”
In June, thefirst-ever Vietnam Tattoo Expo was held in Hanoi, with the participation ofhundreds of tattoo artists and fans at home and abroad.
Apart from offeringa playground for the tattoo community, the event helped the public to see howrich and interesting the tattoo world is.
Vietnamese tattooartists are proving their talent and skills, and have actively connected withinternational artists to advance their skills, technique, and update theirstyle.
They are serving not only Vietnamese but also foreign clients.
Kody Batchelor is anAmerican tourist and he wants to have a Vietnamese-style tattoo during hisvisit to Vietnam.
“Vietnamese artistsare so talented,” Kody said.
He likes thebeautiful fusion of tradition, history, and new modern forms in Vietnamesetattooing.
Emile Rousseau, aFrench tattoo artist, has worked in Vietnam for three and a half years. He hasdeveloped a good connection with the tattoo market in Vietnam.
“Many Vietnameseartists are very good, showing off their art ability and style,” Emile said.
The French tattooisthas expressed his belief that in five years, Vietnam will be a very big countryfor tattoos.
Quang Pham is amongnumerous Vietnamese tattoo artists who feel positive about a full-time stablecareer in the tattoo market, where they can pursue their passion and earn moneyat the same time.
He remarked thattattooists in the country must always improve their techniques and skills toensure the safety of their clients during the inking process.
Tattooists also needto have good background knowledge to introduce Vietnamese culture into theirworks so the tattoos can reflect Vietnamese culture.-VNA
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