DONG DANG “DONG ONI” Saigon/Vietnam. @28ink_dongoni_tattoo_shop

With 12 years of experience, Dong Oni is a leading figure in the Oriental style, recognized not only for his technical skill but also for his deep commitment to the culture he represents. Recently, he was chosen as one of the top 5 artists in the DGN Tattoo Magazine International Competition, standing out among more than 100 participants from around the world. Additionally, Dong Oni has been awarded 4 prizes in the same competition, an achievement that highlights his mastery and dedication to this art.

Throughout his career, he has shown that awards are merely a reflection of his constant effort and passion. For him, awards are not symbols of superiority but rather memories of each step he has taken in his journey as a tattoo artist, driven by his desire to continue learning and improving.

Dong Oni has been pivotal in the tattoo community by creating and organizing the Vietnam Ink Show, an event that has given visibility to young Vietnamese artists and has established itself as an international reference. He is not only an award-winning artist but also a mentor and judge at international conventions, where his experience and vision enrich the new generations. Today, with the same passion as at the beginning, he continues to be driven by his commitment to art and the tattoo community, inspiring artists worldwide.

1.How many years have you been tattooing?

I’ve been tattooing for 12 years.

2.As an artist working in the Oriental style, what does it mean to you to share your culture and stories through tattooing on someone else's body?

For me, Eastern tattoo culture is something I have to pursue forever. Once I have done it, I want to do it better with a more unique style. Most importantly, Eastern culture is extremely diverse and rich. As an Easterner, I want to translate this entire culture into tattoos for my customers.

3.What are those projects like?

I like tattoos that cover the body. For many people who like tattoos, they will consider them a piece of jewelry on the body, but for me, I consider tattoos as my ideal, and they must be a costume — like a suit of clothes. I like big tattoos.

4.How did the idea of creating the Vietnam Ink Show come about, and what motivated you to carry out a convention of this scale?

I have organized two seasons of this event. The first year, we focused only on artists who had never won an award. Vietnam is a developing country in tattoo art, producing many young artists. I’ve attended many tattoo events worldwide to learn how to organize them. I saw that Vietnam needed an event for young artists. They are talented but not confident enough to step into the spotlight because they fear they are not strong enough. I used to feel the same way, and that’s why I organized the Vietnam Ink Show.

The first season I organized was exclusively for new artists, with no limit on years of experience because I knew that besides young artists, there were many other talented tattoo artists who had been working for years but only cared about making money and never brought their work to competitions.

After the first season of VNIS, we helped the large Vietnamese community discover young talents. In addition, we also found great artists who had been hidden in the shadows for so long, and prominent names began to step into the spotlight.

After that success, we expanded the scale of the event in the second season, including both professional and young artists. Additionally, I invited international friends to participate, and many young artists from various countries attended.

5.You’ve served as a judge in several tattoo conventions. What has that experience been like for you, and what has it taught you — both personally and professionally — about observing, evaluating, and making decisions on other artists’ work?

For me, being assigned the responsibility of being a judge at a tattoo event, no matter how big or small, is something I cherish. Being able to sit on stage and evaluate everyone’s work is not about judging anyone. I am just there to support them as a colleague.

6.We had the privilege of having you in our DGN International Competition, and the jury selected you as one of the top 5 artists among more than 100 participants from around the world. What has this award meant to you, being chosen by such highly respected professionals in the industry?

For me, it is an honor and a journey that I have worked hard for. I am someone who has done many jobs before coming to tattooing. I’ve been through many dark years before becoming a tattoo artist, and now my life seems to have stepped into the light. This is the success I’ve always wished for, and it motivates me to work even harder. I’m grateful for the judges’ appreciation, and I thank DGN Magazine for giving a small tattoo artist like me the opportunity to be featured alongside colleagues from around the world. Thank you for everything. I come from Vietnam.

7.You’ve also won first place in several categories. How do you feel about that? Do you take a moment to reflect on those awards, or do they motivate you to keep growing and evolving as an artist?

For me, it’s happiness. In all the awards I’ve won over the past 12 years, I’ve never thought of myself as being better than others. For me, it’s just that luck has always smiled upon me. The awards are simply memories of the journeys I’ve gone through. Of course, the higher the award, the more beautiful the memories

8.How is the rest of your year looking? Do you already have plans, or do you prefer to let things flow?

I will always burn with passion, continue to learn, and travel more to challenge myself. There will be times when I feel tired, but I won’t allow myself to stop.

9.If someone wants to contact you, how can they do it?

They can contact me through platforms, personal facebook page, instagram or can visit my website: www.28ink.net

10.We offer you this space to share anything you wish — a personal message, words of gratitude, reflections, or anything else you'd like to express.

Once again, I would like to thank DGN Magazine for being the bridge that allows me to connect with international tattoo artist friends. I hope we will meet again at tattoo events, continue developing our careers, and grow the community together. Sincerely, and thank you.