Once considered a mark of evil and violence, but now increasingly appreciated as a form of art and fashion, tattoos are becoming widely accepted by an increasing number of Vietnamese, mostly in the twenty to forty-year old age range. This greater appreciation for the art has put more emphasis on professionalism and hygiene which has helped catapult the careers and individual styles of locally based tattooists. The three artists below have made their skin-beautifying mark in the city’s tattoo culture. Their presence in town benefits both Vietnamese and expat aficionados who now can get their body modified just as beautifully as they can in Thailand or Singapore. Not to mention at a much cheaper price and without the hassle of a flight overseas.

Inked it first
Founded in 2004, and nameless at the time, Saigon Ink was the pioneering studio for contemporary body art in Ho Chi Minh City. The founder, Thien, fell in love with the art of body modification when he was seduced by rock music at the age of 16.With an irresistible calling for the art, Thien honed his needle skills with seven years of study at the Ho Chi Minh City School of Fine Arts and workshops in Thailand, as he took the bold step of turning his passion into a profession. In June 2008, after four years of tireless and patient effort in his first tiny, secluded studio, Thien became licensed and opened Saigon Ink at a bigger and much more visible location on Dien Bien Phu Street downtown.

Thien holding his weapon of mass creation 

Saigon Ink now offers tattooing, piercing and airbrushing. Thien also gives courses and offers apprenticeships for the next generation of aspiring artists. After four years in operation, word-of-mouth among the skin art society has paid off, with Saigon Ink now enjoying a high level of regard among locals and a number of expats. It is now Saigon’s top-of-mind body art studio with an extensive portfolio of work, from which you can find some of the quirkiest piercings seen around town, as well as massive and complex tattoos covering entire backs, arms and legs. Saigon Ink: 608 Dien Bien Phu St, Dist 10, Ho Chi Minh City. 08 3830 4668. www.tattoovietnam.com

Tadashi- Needle of action
After working for a while as an electronic technician in Japan, Trung, a.k.a. Tadashi, decided to get back on the road he loved – arts. This time though, he did not return to drawing which was his major at the Ho Chi Minh University of Fine Arts, but instead found himself captivated once again by tattooing, the art form that hooked him from his very early days. With a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, Trung came to Thien seeking training in the craft.

 Trung a.k.a Tadashi

Trung - a canvas for his own art

After a year as a student, Trung gained his mentor’s trust and was accepted as one of only two apprentices in the Saigon Ink studio. While Thien is all about the aesthetic harmony of the artwork, Trung is exacting about movement and details. “If it’s a soaring dragon or a tiger leaping forward I want every toe, fin or hair of the beast to convey the action,” elaborates Trung.

At Saigon Ink, he is the most sought after tattooist for Kanji and 3D tattoos. But last March, feeling that the time is right as his confidence and skills mature, Trung is opening his own studio – Tadashi Studio in District 10. In the beginning, there will be no other art forms but tattooing, available at a cheaper rate than Saigon Ink. His own tattooing classes will continue and remain free of charge. The studio, expected to be finished soon, promised to be a homey, accommodating and personalized environment. 

Custom Ink
"A tattoo is a deeply personal thing. It transforms the way a person thinks about his or her body and can change the relationship of him and his spiritual self”, the way Sylven portrays the enchantment of becoming a tattoo artist. He picked up the passion at a very young age and later enrolled for a year at the Montserrat College of Arts in Massachusetts. However, life flew open to reveal that the human skin was his canvas of choice. Sylven studied with a professional tattoo artist in the United States and when fate moved him to Vietnam in 2004, he pushed ahead by pursuing a tattooing certificate from the Thailand Tattoo Center.

Sylven leaves a lasting impression at his studio

This serious training guarantees Sylven’s dedication to hygiene and meticulousness. Being American, he is somewhat less widely known, especially among locals who make up the majority of the market. But by not aggressively expanding his business, Sylven keeps his faithful customers assured of his close personal collaboration on tattoo design, meticulous handiwork and guaranteed quality, including consultations and touch-ups two weeks after the work is done without any additional charge. If there is a one-of-a-kind tattoo running around in your head and you wish for heartfelt help in bringing the design to life, this is your guy. By appointment only. Contact Sylven: saigonmoon.tattoo@gmail.com. See more for yourself:

http://moon-tattoo.blogspot.com

Words & Photography by Chi Mai

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