How Far Does 100, 300 or 500 USD Go for a Tattoo in Saigon?

Three numbers show up most in the messages we get: 100, 300 and 500 US dollars. At about 25,000 VND to the dollar, those are 2.5 million, 7.5 million and 12.5 million dong. Here is what each can realistically buy at a studio like ours, and where it stops.

The full table sits on our Ho Chi Minh tattoo price page. This post reads it from the other direction: you have a budget, so what fits inside it?

100 USD (about 2.5 million VND)

This covers a mini or small piece with room to spare. A 2 to 5 cm design costs roughly 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 VND, and a detailed small piece of 5 to 10 cm costs 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 VND. The deposit is deducted from that total, not added on top.

What does well at this level: a single word, a small symbol, a fine line flower, a date in Roman numerals, a tiny animal. A wrist, ankle, behind the ear or the inner bicep. Our small tattoo ideas in Ho Chi Minh City are built for this range.

What does not: anything with a lot of shading, colour or portrait detail, squeezed into a coin-size piece. Tiny and detailed fades fast. If the budget is tight, we would pick a bigger, simpler line over a smaller crowded drawing.

300 USD (about 7.5 million VND)

This is the first-tattoo sweet spot. It buys a medium piece, 10 to 15 cm, at 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 VND, and in many cases a large piece too, at the lower end of 4,000,000 to 8,000,000 VND. You get 3 to 6 hours in the chair.

Good fits: a forearm design with some shading, a calf piece, a small colour piece, a larger lettering line. Check the forearm tattoo ideas and prices page to see what fills that range. The consultation and design work are inside the price, and the artist will tell you if the idea needs a second sitting.

The trap at this level is asking for a detailed full-colour piece in a medium size and expecting the lower end of the tier. Colour sits at the upper end or one tier higher.

500 USD (about 12.5 million VND)

Five hundred dollars is past a single medium piece. It covers a large piece (15 to 25 cm) at the top of its range, or the first full-day session of a big project such as a sleeve or back piece, which starts at 8,000,000 VND and up. A large project is quoted per session after consultation, with a session plan so you see the total.

Think of 500 USD as a starting figure for work that continues. If you are visiting for a week or two, one big session can be completed. If it needs more than one, consider whether you can return or whether the design can be split.

A table you can screenshot

Exchange rates move, so the dollar figures are approximate. The VND price is what we quote.

Ways to stretch the budget without cutting corners

• Choose black and grey over colour. It takes fewer passes.
• Pick a flatter placement such as the outer arm, thigh or calf. Hands, ribs and neck cost more per cm.
• Keep the size, simplify the detail. A bolder design ages better than a crowded one.
• Do not shop the cheapest quote. A weak line costs you a touch-up or a cover-up.

Not sure what size you need? Print the tattoo size chart at 100 percent and hold it against your arm.

When your budget is between the three

Most people land at 200 or 400 dollars, not a round number. Around 200 USD (5 million VND) you can have a medium piece at the lower end of its tier, black and grey, on a flat placement. Around 400 USD (10 million VND) fits a solid large piece in black and grey, or a medium piece in colour with detail. Tell us the figure and the placement, and we will say what we can do inside it.

Do not forget the add-ons

Your budget should include ride fares to and from the studio, aftercare products (unscented soap and ointment cost a few dollars) and, if you are a visitor, a rest day. If you fly out soon after, factor in a touch-up that you may not be able to do in person. We tell you in advance when a piece should be reviewed.

If this is your first tattoo, the steps are in our first tattoo in Ho Chi Minh City guide, and booking is explained on how to book a tattoo.

Tell us the budget you have, not the one you think sounds right. We would rather draw something that fits it well than push a bigger idea.

FAQ

Can I get a decent tattoo for 100 USD in Saigon?

Yes, for a mini or small design in black ink. It will be a simple piece, done with single-use needles at a proper station.

Is the deposit extra?

No. It secures the appointment and is deducted from the final price.

Will the price go up on the day?

The quote is agreed before the session. If the design grows, we tell you before we start.

Do you accept USD?

Ask us when you book. The quote is in VND, and we will confirm the payment methods with you.