In traditional Vietnamese views, tattoos are seen as part of an “underground culture” closely linked to gangs and sex work. However, according to AFP, some people are working to change this perception, and Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, known as Ngoc Like, is one of them.

In Vietnam, tattoo artist Tran Thi Bich Ngoc (known as Ngoc Like) has a unique job, using color and needlework to give new life to women’s scars, helping shift tattoos from a marginalized culture to a form of emotional healing.

(Tattoo artist Ngoc Like takes a photo in her studio. In her small apartment, Ngoc Like offers emotional healing through tattoos to middle-aged women who have experienced divorce or illness. /CFP)

Ngoc Like graduated from the Vietnam Academy of Theatre and Cinema. After graduation, she gave up a stable career to focus on scar tattooing. Most of her clients are women with visible scars from surgery, C-sections, burns, or self-harm. “I’m not just a tattoo artist, but also a listener, hoping to help them overcome insecurity and embrace life again.”

(Tattoo artist Ngoc Like designs a tattoo over a female client’s scar in her studio. /CFP)

According to AFP, in her Hanoi studio, Ngoc Like customizes detailed tattoo designs tailored to each client’s scar type, body part, and emotional needs. Common scars she covers include those from C-sections, surgical cuts, and burns. She uses floral and animal patterns that blend into the skin, offering both beauty and psychological comfort.

(Tattoo artist Ngoc Like designs a tattoo over a female client’s scar in her studio. /CFP)

Many clients say the process of healing their scars with Ngoc Like has helped them “regain confidence and transform from insecurity to strength.”

As a pioneer in scar tattooing with over ten years of experience, Ngoc Like is dedicated to transforming tattoos from “fashion statements” into “spiritual repair.” She even created a YouTube channel promoting the concept of “daily self-love” and plans to expand internationally.