About Us
Lantern & Moth Tattoo is an Australian-owned studio in Da Nang, led by an artist with over 18 years of international experience. We blend Western-level hygiene and premium U.S. inks with the vibrant creativity of Vietnamese culture. Our goal is to craft meaningful, custom tattoos that reflect each client’s personal story and style.
Book Your Free Consultation
Ready to turn your tattoo idea into reality? At Lantern & Moth Tattoo Da Nang, we offer free consultations to help you plan your perfect piece.
Book Now!Our clientele generally fall into three main categories: holidaymakers wanting a “Vietnam tattoo”, tattoo collectors who know they can get much better value than in their own country, and of course Da Nang locals, whether they are expats or Vietnamese.
Da Nang is especially well suited to this because it is a city where many people stay for several days rather than just passing through. That gives you time to look at artists properly, plan the design and fit the tattoo around the rest of your travel.
Why Da Nang Is a Good Place to Get Tattooed
Da Nang has grown into a very international city. With its international airport and close proximity to Hoi An and Hue, a lot of travellers pass through. Those who stay are often drawn to the An Thuong area.
It has something for almost everyone, with the beach on one side and the river on the other, endless choices of Vietnamese and Western food, and accommodation to suit every budget.
Then, of course, there are tattoo studios. Da Nang has a lot of them, and quite a few are located in An Thuong. That gives travellers more choice than they might expect.
If you are looking for Western Traditional, Japanese, Realism, Black and Grey, Fineline, Script, Polynesian, Neo Traditional, Graphic, Blackwork or a larger custom piece, there are artists in Da Nang working in all of these styles.
The city is also an easy place to spend some time. If you are here for a week or more, you can organise your tattoo without feeling like you have to rush the design or squeeze the appointment into one afternoon.
Here at Lantern and Moth Tattoo, we are experienced at working with almost every timeframe. Some customers drop in for a consultation when they arrive, then come back to be tattooed weeks later. Others message us beforehand and book a session for the morning they fly out after a quick overnight transit in Da Nang.
Cost and Value Compared With Western Countries
One of the biggest reasons people consider getting tattooed in Vietnam is price.
Tattoo prices in Da Nang are generally lower than in Australia, the UK, Europe or North America. That does not automatically mean the quality of the products or the tattooing has to be lower.
Like anywhere in the world, do your research and look carefully at the portfolios of the artists you are interested in.
The main difference is the cost of operating a studio. Labour, rent and many everyday business expenses are considerably cheaper in Vietnam than they are in most Western countries.
Professional tattoo inks, cartridges and other specialist supplies are still available internationally, so a good studio can use the same type of products you would expect to see in Australia or elsewhere.
At Lantern and Moth, for example, many of the core tattoo products we use are the same products I used while operating my studio in Australia. The lower price comes largely from the lower cost of doing business here, not from trying to save money on the tattoo itself.
The inks we use are American brands that I source through Australian suppliers to help ensure they are genuine products rather than counterfeit, low quality or potentially hazardous alternatives.
The Bigger Savings Are Usually on Larger Tattoos
The price difference is noticeable on a small tattoo, but the real savings tend to appear on larger work.
Every tattoo has a basic setup involved. Whether the tattoo takes 30 minutes or six hours, we use many of the same setup products. With larger pieces, however, labour becomes a much bigger part of the total price.
A tattoo that takes a full day, or several sessions, can become very expensive in countries where artist labour rates are high. In Da Nang, that labour cost is much lower, which can make a significant difference on large scale work and other time intensive projects.
For someone already travelling through Vietnam, it can make sense to have that larger piece done here rather than waiting until they return home.
Plan Around Swimming, Sun and Travel
The biggest mistake travellers make is not thinking about what comes after the tattoo.
Da Nang is a beach city, which means swimming and strong sun are often a big part of the trip. Unfortunately, neither is ideal for a fresh tattoo.
If you know you want to spend time swimming, surfing, diving or sitting in the sun, it usually makes more sense to get tattooed toward the end of your stay. Also keep in mind that tattooing sunburned skin is a bad idea.
A little planning makes the whole process much easier.
Local Design Inspiration
You do not need to get a stereotypical “Vietnam tattoo” just because you are getting tattooed here.
That said, Vietnam offers a huge amount of visual inspiration.
Dragons, lotus flowers, tigers, koi, temples, architecture, landscapes, mythology, traditional patterns and Vietnamese lettering can all become part of a design.
The best results usually come from combining local inspiration with your own style.
A Vietnamese dragon can be traditional, Japanese inspired, illustrative or Black and Grey. A lotus can be bold and decorative rather than Fineline. A landscape can be simplified into something graphic or turned into a detailed Realism piece.
The location can inspire the tattoo without controlling the entire design.
Choosing the Right Studio and Artist
Price should never be the only reason you choose a tattoo studio.
Look at the artist’s portfolio, and not just one or two good tattoos. Check whether the work is consistent and whether they regularly tattoo in the style you want.
Read the reviews too, but remember that more reviews do not automatically mean better work.
Hygiene is equally important. A professional studio should use single use needles or cartridges, clean disposable barriers, proper surface disinfection and safe handling of inks and equipment.
We are always happy to discuss and explain our process with our clients. Our ethos is to make sure our clients feel relaxed, informed and comfortable throughout the entire process.
Communication matters too, especially if you are travelling. You should feel comfortable asking questions about the design, placement, price, healing and what to expect on the day.
How to Prepare Before Booking
If you already know what you want, send clear reference images and explain what you like about them.
The artist does not need ten nearly identical pictures, but a few good references can make the direction much easier to understand.
It can also become confusing for the artist or studio if you send five pictures of dragons in five completely different styles. Reference photos are often more useful for showing us the style you want than the actual subject matter.
It also helps to know roughly where you want the tattoo and what size you are considering.
If you are only in Da Nang for a short time, contact the studio before you arrive. Larger custom tattoos may need design time, and popular artists may already have bookings.
Whenever possible, most good studios will prefer an in person consultation, especially for larger work. You are going to have the tattoo for a long time, and I cannot stress enough the importance of good communication during the planning phase.
Before the appointment, get a good night’s sleep, eat properly, stay hydrated and avoid arriving hungover or sunburned.
Wear clothing that gives the artist easy access to the area being tattooed while still keeping you comfortable and relaxed.
Final Thoughts
Getting a tattoo in Da Nang can make a lot of sense.
The city has a well developed tattoo scene, good access to experienced artists, lower operating costs than Western countries and the opportunity to get larger work done at a considerably lower price.
But the same rules still apply as they would anywhere else.
Choose the artist carefully, look at the quality of their work, make sure the studio takes hygiene seriously and plan the tattoo around the rest of your trip.
If those things line up, getting tattooed in Da Nang can be both good value and a memorable part of travelling through Vietnam.