HELLO - getting tattoos in Vietnam?

[Howie]

Hello all,

Firstly I'd like to say thank you! I very recently started getting tattoos as man in my mid-to-late twenties (30 in a few months LOL). TLS has given me a bunch of laughs reading all the fucked up apprentice stories and whatnot, but more importantly this site has played a big part in my taste quickly going from absolutely nowhere to the point where I know what I like and am able to spot shitty/good artists to a certain degree. 

Anyway, I'm a Welshman living in NZ at the moment where I've gotten my first handful of tattoos, and in a month I'm going to live in Saigon Vietnam for a while. My question to the fully initiated tattoo people of LST is this...

Is getting tattoos in Vietnam and SE Asia generally a big no-no in your guys' books? Or is it just a case of being a little more aware than usual and being damn sure tubes are coming out of autoclaves, needles are coming out of packaging and ink has branding on it? By the way I seriously don't want to offend any people living in Vietnam reading this but I've had a couple of warnings regarding shop cleanliness etc and wanted to get some opinion. 

http://www.saigonink.net/ - this seems to be the shop that has the best rep. Anyone know of other shops in that area? I'm going in an American Traditional direction, both black and color. 

Would be interesting to get people's thoughts on the subject.

Many thanks!!

 

[SStu]

Sorry, no input on Vietnam tattooists, but I don't really see any American Traditional tattoos on Saigon Ink's site . . . 

[Howie]

So, you're telling me mandalas aren't American Traditional?! 

A couple of the guys there at least seem to be doing some stuff with solid lines and a fair bit of black shading etc, would be nice to find someone catering more for the style though.

Maybe I'd be better off flying to Thailand whenever I fancy getting something.

[SStu]

I wouldn't consider mandalas to be American Traditional. Can't remember ever seeing any Sailor Jerry examples :)

[Howie]

Yeah I doubt there's a big market for it. Apparently tattoos are still relatively taboo among locals in Vietnam and your average expat or tourist going to the 'best tattoo shop in town' probably isn't wanting a crude piece of sailor flash, and neither am I really.

When I say "American Traditional" I don't mean I'm looking for a shop literally doing authentic Sailor Jerry rip offs... it would be more accurate to say I'm getting one-shot traditional style pieces that are vaguely in keeping with the aesthetic. I feel there are a number of promising tattoos on the Saigon Ink site in terms of application, so maybe it's worth popping in for a chat, get a feel for the hygiene standards and try to catch some regulars with healed work etc.

Quite surprised at the total lack of response regarding the health & hygiene aspect of my question considering the website's mission statement. Maybe due to a lack of first hand experience in SE Asia? Surely there are some tattoo enthusiasts here that have lived in or travelled to this part of the world?!

 

[SStu]

In the last 2-3 years, this is the 1st time I personally remember anyone asking about Vietnam. My niece got a nice black/grey in Thailand, but we only learned about it after it was done, and I don't know what kind of shop (if any) it was done in. 

[Howie]

Fair enough!

I'm going to settle in there for a while, hopefully strike up a few conversations with people sporting nice tattoos and get the lay of the land. That combined with a reccy at each of the obvious shops I'm sure I'll be able to make a good decision.

I'll report back for any current/future members wondering about Vietnam 

Thank you for your replies @SStu!

[SStu]

@howie https://www.instagram.com/vietnamtattooconvention/

[Howie]

@SStu I did spot that, I get to HCMC on the 19th unfortunately. I did consider the possibility of leaving sooner for the convention but money didn't allow, I need to work right up until the 17th... mostly due to tattoo brokeness ironically 

Thanks for the heads up all the same buddy!!