GOAT TATTOOTraditional Vietnamese Tattoo
Short answer: You can get a traditional Vietnamese tattoo at GOAT Tattoo Studio in Hanoi Old Quarter, where our Vietnamese team designs it around the meaning of each symbol. Vietnam's tattoo tradition goes back to the ancient Lạc Việt, who, according to the old chronicles, tattooed water-dragon images on their bodies so the creatures of the rivers would treat them as kin. The custom faded under later dynasties, so today a traditional Vietnamese tattoo usually means a design built from the country's oldest symbols: the Đông Sơn drum sun, the chim Lạc bird, the Vietnamese dragon and the lotus. GOAT Tattoo Studio in Hanoi Old Quarter draws these designs custom for you, at 2nd Floor, 56 Trang Thi Street, about 5 minutes on foot from Hoan Kiem Lake. The studio has a 5.0 Google rating from 750+ reviews, an English-speaking team, single-use needles and hospital-grade sterilization.
Vietnam-inspired work from our studio
See the full Vietnam-themed gallery →
Who will tattoo you
Larger heritage pieces, such as a Đông Sơn drum on the back or a Vietnamese dragon sleeve, are done by our large-scale artists Kane and Linker, who each have between 7 and more than 10 years of experience. Smaller symbols like a chim Lạc bird or a lotus suit Nick and Kane, who each have more than 5 years of experience with small, detailed tattoos.
Traditional Vietnamese symbols and what they mean
- Đông Sơn drum: the bronze drums made in northern Vietnam more than two thousand years ago. The many-pointed sun at the center, ringed by flying birds and scenes of daily life, stands for roots and community.
- Chim Lạc: the long-beaked bird cast on the Đông Sơn drums, linked to the Lạc Việt people and one of the oldest symbols of Vietnamese identity.
- Water dragon (thuồng luồng): the river creature the Lạc Việt are recorded as tattooing on their bodies, the original Vietnamese tattoo.
- Vietnamese dragon (rồng): in the legend, the Vietnamese people descend from the dragon king Lạc Long Quân and the fairy Âu Cơ, so the dragon stands for ancestry, rain and good harvests.
- Lotus (hoa sen): the national flower, growing clean out of muddy water; purity and resilience.
- Golden turtle: the Hoan Kiem Lake legend, where King Lê Lợi returned his magic sword to a golden turtle after defeating the invaders.
- Trưng Sisters: the two sisters who led an uprising in the year 40, a symbol of courage and of Vietnamese women's strength.
- Đông Sơn geometric bands: the rings of small circles, zigzags and ladder patterns that frame the drum's sun, the basis for a Vietnamese tribal-style armband or round piece.
A short history of tattooing in Vietnam
The old Vietnamese chronicles record that the Lạc Việt, the people of the Hùng Kings' Văn Lang kingdom, practiced xăm mình: they tattooed water-dragons onto their bodies so the creatures believed to live in the rivers would leave them unharmed. Unlike many tattoo traditions, the reason given is practical protection rather than decoration.
Later royal courts moved Vietnamese customs closer to Confucian norms, which did not favor tattooing, and the practice largely disappeared. In the 20th century tattoos returned mostly with a bad reputation, linked to gangs and prison, which is why some older Vietnamese still look at visible tattoos with suspicion.
Since the 2000s Vietnam's tattoo scene has grown fast, and with it a new interest in the old motifs. When you choose one of these symbols, we explain where it comes from in the consultation so your design respects its meaning.
Prices
| Small heritage symbol, under 30 minutes | from $36 |
| Larger traditional Vietnamese pieces | $77 per hour |
Indicative prices. Your final quote is confirmed in the free consultation, before any tattooing starts. All prices
How it works
- Message us on WhatsApp or the booking form with your idea, the placement and any reference photos.
- Free consultation: we match you with the right artist, agree the size and confirm the price.
- The design is drawn for you, and you approve it before we start.
- Large pieces are done over several sessions. If you are traveling, tell us your dates so we can plan them.
- Aftercare: keep the tattoo out of the sea, pools and strong sun while it heals.
Questions
Where can I get a traditional Vietnamese tattoo in Hanoi?
At GOAT Tattoo Studio in Hanoi Old Quarter (2nd Floor, 56 Trang Thi). Our team is Vietnamese, so we can explain the meaning and history of symbols like the Đông Sơn drum, the chim Lạc and the Vietnamese dragon, and draw a custom design around the one you choose. The team speaks English, the studio has a 5.0 Google rating from 750+ reviews, and mini tattoos start from $36.
What is a traditional Vietnamese tattoo?
Historically, the Lạc Việt tattooed water-dragons on their bodies for protection. Today the term usually means a design built from Vietnam's oldest symbols: the Đông Sơn drum, the chim Lạc bird, the Vietnamese dragon and the lotus.
What does a Đông Sơn drum tattoo mean?
The Đông Sơn drums were cast in northern Vietnam more than two thousand years ago. As a tattoo, the central sun with its ring of flying birds usually stands for roots, community and a link to Vietnam's earliest history.
Can a foreigner get a traditional Vietnamese tattoo?
Yes. These symbols are part of Vietnam's shared heritage and appear widely in Vietnamese art and design. In the free consultation we explain the meaning of each symbol and help you choose one that fits your own story.
Is there a Vietnamese tribal tattoo?
Not in the Polynesian sense: no fixed set of tribal patterns survived from the Lạc Việt custom. What people usually mean by a Vietnamese tribal tattoo today is a blackwork design built from the Đông Sơn drum: rings of circles and zigzags, the many-pointed sun and a band of chim Lạc birds. These shapes work well as an armband or as a round piece on the shoulder or back, and we draw them custom for each client.
Where is the studio?
2nd Floor, 56 Trang Thi Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. It is about a 5-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake and open every day from 10:00 to 21:00.
Read more about Vietnamese heritage tattoos
Design your traditional Vietnamese tattoo
Tell us which symbol speaks to you and where you want it. The consultation is free.
Book a free consultation