Hanoi (VNA) - When Truong Thanh Dinh came home with a tattoo on his chest,his mother yelled at him, saying that only gangsters get tattoos on their body.
Dinh,23, explained to his mother how much he loves her and that he got her portraittattooed as a reminder of her motivation in everything he does.
Gradually, his mother began to change her point of view on tattoos and can now seetheir positive value.
“Mymother has become much more interested in the tattoo,” Dinh told the VietnamNews Agency.
“Sometimes, she looks at it and wonders how one can make a tattoo look so real,so much like her.”
InVietnam, tattoos used to hold largely negative connotations in society. People typicallyassociated tattoos with gangs and criminals.
However, recently, Vietnamese people are becoming more open to getting tattoosthemselves.
QuangPham, a Hanoian tattoo artist, said tattoos have now become widely accepted asan art form rather than a stigma. Some tattoos are even seen to make positivechanges in their wearers.
Hanoiteenager Nguyen Quang Huy has a Buddha tattoo on his shoulder.
Huy said he has had to face numerous difficulties in his life and the tattoomarked a turning point in his life.
“Since having it (the Buddha tattoo) done, I feel like I carry the symbol ofgood luck,” he said.
“Manyof my friends get tattoos to mark an important event in their lives. Some getmotivational quotes.”
Therecent Vietnam Tattoo Expo in Hanoi, the first of its kind, drew hundreds of tattooartists and fans at home and abroad.
Theevent offered a playground for the tattoo community. It also brough tattooing closerto the public, so they could see how rich and interesting the tattoo world is.
Vietnamesetattoo artists are proving their talent and skills at home as well asinternationally.
Theyhave actively connected with international artists to advance their skills,technique, and update their style. They are serving not only Vietnamese but alsoforeign clients.
KodyBatchelor is an American tourist and he wants to have a Vietnamese-style tattooduring his visit to Vietnam.
EmileRousseau, a French tattoo artist, has worked in Vietnam for three and a half years.He has developed a good connection with the tattoo market in Vietnam.
“ManyVietnamese artists are very good, showing off their art ability and style,”Emile said.
TheFrench tattooist has expressed his belief that in five years, Vietnam will be avery big country for tattoos.
QuangPham is among numerous Vietnamese tattoo artists who feel positive about a full-timestable career in the tattoo market, where they can pursue their passion andearn money at the same time.
He remarked that tattooists in the country must alwaysimprove their techniques and skills to ensure the safety of their clientsduring the inking process.
Tattooists also need to have a good background knowledge tointroduce Vietnamese culture into their works so the tattoos can reflect Vietnamese culture.
Thosewho get tattooed should also do some careful research before getting a tattooto ensure that they go to the right artist for the kind of art they want to puton their bodies. -VNA