By Thúy Hằng

At a bookstore on Hà Nội’s renowned Đinh Lễ book street, a young man in distinctive glasses immerses himself in books about Việt Nam’s ancient bronze drums – the sacred cultural artefacts dating back to more than 20 centuries ago.

Tattoo artist Hưng Xù has made a name for himself with his intricate designs inspired by decorative patterns on Việt Nam’s ancient bronze drums. Photo courtesy of the artist

He isn’t a historian or an antique restoration expert. He’s tattoo artist Hưng Xù, who has made a name for himself in tattoo communities with intricate designs inspired by traditional motifs carved into ancient bronze drums.

Before pursuing tattooing, Hưng Xù – real name Lê Quang Hưng – worked at a travel company and co-founded a bar with friends. Neither job was art-related, despite his long-standing passion for drawing, especially manga, since childhood. His journey took an unexpected turn after he got an ink by a former bartender he had once hired, who had since become a tattooist.

A design featuring the mystical phoenix often seen on Vietnamese ancient bronze drums. Photo courtesy of the artist

Social prejudice

Hưng opened a tattoo studio called HandXăm (pronounced “Handsome”) for his former employee in 2015. It was there that he first became engaged in tattooing—at a time when tattoos in Việt Nam were still heavily stigmatised and commonly associated with criminal gangs.

“The more I practised, the more passionate I became. I couldn’t stop thinking about tattoos—whether I was eating, going out, or heading to bed. I even developed a ‘professional habit’ of discreetly observing people’s tattoos,” Hưng said.

By 2018, he left his job in tourism to become a full-time tattooist, determined to challenge social prejudices.

“I believe tattoos are more than just body art—they’re fashion accessories that enhance appearance and express personality,” he said.

An intricate tattoo design that Hưng Xù spent four days completing. Photo courtesy of the artist

Determined to shift public perception and promote tattoos as an art form, Hưng committed himself to mastering the craft, focusing on safety and hygiene for his clients.

In 2019, leveraging his experience as a tour guide, he embarked on a tattoo tour across Việt Nam by motorbike, travelling from Mù Cang Chải in Yên Bái to Hội An, Đà Nẵng, Nha Trang and Hồ Chí Minh City. He announced the journey on Facebook, attracting clients at every stop—drawn not only to his skill but also to his storytelling.

“I’m thrilled to see more Vietnamese embracing tattoos. People now walk proudly with some ink. That shows social attitudes are changing,” he said.

Inspiration during the pandemic

Hưng began noticing that many foreign clients admired bronze drum tattoos, prompting him to reflect on their cultural value. Some friends, before moving abroad, had also asked for getting some antique designs.

Artist Hưng Xù believes that tattoos are more than just body art – they’re like fashion accessories that enhance appearance and express personality. Photo courtesy of the artist

“This made me realise how valuable our cultural traditions are—something we often only fully appreciate when we’re far from home,” he said. “One of my earliest tattoos features a bronze drum motif, and my fascination has only grown since.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced HandXăm Studio to close for an extended period, Hưng used the time to deepen his research. He immersed himself in books and documents about the sacred drums and began incorporating their motifs into his work—quickly attracting attention online.

The HandXăm Studio located on a quaint street in Ba Đình District. VNS Photo Thúy Hằng

“During the pandemic, people slowed down and reflected. Many began to reconnect with national pride and cultural identity. My ancient bronze drum-inspired tattoos seemed to resonate with them,” he said.

Although he wasn’t originally an expert on bronze drums, Hưng can now speak confidently about them—their historical evolution, regional differences, and symbolic meanings. His studio holds a wide-ranging collection of related books.

“Any Vietnamese-language book on bronze drums—you’ll probably find it here,” he said with a smile.

Connecting heritage through inks

Hưng can’t recall how many clients he has worked with, but they come from around the world. Many are young people of Vietnamese descent adopted by foreign families who want to reconnect with their roots.

Tattoo artist Hưng Xù and his client Simon Phuong Ghilarducci, who commemorated his first visit to Việt Nam in 2024 with a large tattoo featuring bronze drum decorative patterns on his right shoulder. Photo courtesy of the artist

One such client is Simon Phuong Ghilarducci, a 23-year-old firefighter from Portland, Oregon, USA. Adopted as an infant from Bình Dương Province, he struggled with questions about his origins. After high school, he worked and saved to visit Việt Nam.

In 2024, he finally made the journey. To commemorate it, he had his first tattoo by Hưng—the whole decorative patterns on the batter head of the Vietnamese bronze drum on his right shoulder. For Ghilarducci, who also goes by the Vietnamese name “Chiến”, the tattoo strengthens his connection to his birth origin and affirms his identity.

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A close-up photo of the tattoo on Simon Phuong Ghilarducci’s right shoulder. Photo courtesy of the artist

He has recently returned for a second tattoo, this time on his chest. But instead of an appointment at the studio, Hưng—also an avid motorcyclist—took him on a road trip northwards to Bắc Kạn Province, allowing Chiến to integrate with the land and culture more deeply.

Other clients have had similar experiences. Frenchwoman Sophie Schaefer, of Vietnamese descent, chose a bronze drum tattoo to mark her own cultural journey. Vietnamese-American IT engineer Justin Chau spent hours at the studio receiving a design from Hưng—and later returned with a meaningful gift: a book on bronze drums from the Museum of History in Hà Nội.

Tattoo artist Hưng Xù talks with Sophie Schaefer, a French woman of Vietnamese descent, about her tattoo at his HandXăm Studio. Photo courtesy of the artist

Recognising the power of tattoos as a bridge between cultural identity and self-expression, Hưng has made it his lifelong mission to promote Vietnamese heritage through his artistry.

In celebration of his efforts, he was invited to participate in the "Ford Territory – Exploring the Mekong Delta, Heritage in Motion" journey, which brought together individuals dedicated to preserving Vietnamese traditions.

Tattoos by Hưng Xù can be viewed on Instagram at @hxu.handxamtattoo or on Facebook at 'Trống Đồng by HXù'. VNS