This Southeast Asian country is sandwiched between China, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Burma. Historically known as Indo-China, this part of the world has a long tradition of tattooing.
Laotian tattooing is very similar to the "breeches style" that is seen in Burma. This design reaches from the waist, to just below the knees, and looks like a pair of breeches tattooed on the body. Generally the designs were of lions, birds, monkeys, elephants and cats, to name a few. These tattoos were primarily decorative and marked a man's maturity, but some believe that the tattoos also give the bearer magical protection.
Tattoo Archive © 1994