Indochina

Indochina is the mainland Southeast Asian region used here for Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Its peoples developed many different traditions of protective and decorative tattooing.

An old Vietnamese story tells of fishermen attacked by creatures in the water. Their ruler explained that the creatures recognised them as beings of the land. His solution was to mark their bodies with the shapes of water creatures, so they would be accepted rather than attacked.

The tale belongs to the legendary world of the Hùng kings and Văn Lang. Tattoos turned the danger into a disguise, giving a memorable explanation for protective body markings.

Elsewhere in the region, dense patterns covered men's hips and thighs. From a distance they resembled clothing, earning the name 'trouser tattoos'. Animal figures, geometric forms and sacred designs could express courage, protection or belonging, with different traditions in different communities.