Electric Tattoo is a reputable tattoo studio in Hanoi that’s been in business for more than 15 years. For someone about to trust a studio with a piece that matters, the real question isn’t “is this shop pretty” – it’s “is the skill actually there.” A portfolio can be curated to show only the best shots, and a review can be written by anyone — but there’s one kind of proof that’s much harder to fake: awards from tattoo competitions, judged by fellow tattoo artists on technique, composition and healing quality, not likes or advertising.
That’s why this article doesn’t open with studio photos or a price list – it opens with the people: two artists who’ve brought home a combined 8 awards for Electric Tattoo.
Hanoi’s Most Trusted Tattoo Studio – How Many Awards Has Electric Tattoo Won? – Award Winning Tattoo Studio Hanoi
To date, Electric Tattoo has won a total of 8 awards between 2016 and 2024, earned by its two lead artists, Wolf Nguyễn and Horituan:
- 2 Asian international awards (Taiwan, Thailand)
- 6 Domestic awards (Vietnam)
One of those international wins – Wolf Nguyễn’s award at Taiwan I Love Tattoo 2018 — was covered by multiple Vietnamese news outlets, meaning it’s been confirmed not just by the competition’s judging panel, but by independent press as well.
A Complete List of Awards Won
| Competition | Artist | Awards | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ha Noi Inkfest 2016 | Wolf Nguyễn | 1st – Big Realistic Black and Grey | Vietnam |
| Vietnam Tattoo Convention 2017 | Wolf Nguyễn | 2nd – Fantasy Realistic Black and Grey | Vietnam |
| Vietnam Tattoo Expo 2018 | Wolf Nguyễn | 1st – Big Realistic Black and Grey | Vietnam |
| Vietnam Tattoo Expo 2018 | Wolf Nguyễn | 1st – Small Realistic Black and Grey | Vietnam |
| Taiwan I Love Tattoo 2018 | Wolf Nguyễn | 1st – Best Realistic | Taiwan (Asia) |
| Saigon Tattoo Expo 2022 | Horituan | 1st – Best of Oriental | Vietnam |
| Saigon Tattoo Expo 2022 | Horituan | 3rd – Best of Collab | Vietnam |
| Chiang Mai Tattoo Time 2024 | Horituan | 1st – Best of Large Work | Thailand (Asia) |
Wolf Nguyễn – Founder Electric Tattoo – Realistic Black and Grey Artist
Wolf Nguyễn (born Nguyễn Đức Hoàng, in 1991) is the founder of Electric Tattoo. With more than 14 years of experience, he specializes in lettering and Realistic Black and Grey tattooing — one of the hardest styles to pull off, since there’s no color to hide behind and every detail has to hold up like a photograph. He currently holds 5 awards (4 domestic, 1 international), spanning 2016 to 2018.
Asia Award: 1st Place Best Realistic – Taiwan I Love Tattoo 2018
Taiwan I Love Tattoo, organized by master Orientching, only runs once every 10 years (launched in 2008, with 2018 marking its second edition), drawing over 300 artists from around the world – described by Vietnamese press as one of the most respected and largest tattoo competitions in Asia.
Wolf Nguyễn won 1st place in the Best Realistic category with a full-back tattoo themed around Narcos, done entirely in the Realistic Black and Grey technique. The piece is packed with references and details tied to specific moments from the show, and took roughly 10 sessions of 8 hours each – 80 hours in total.
“I’m really happy and proud. Just getting to compete at a continental level already felt like a win for me. Winning in the exact category I specialize in was a huge surprise,” Wolf Nguyễn said after receiving the award.
Since this competition only happens once a decade, it was close to a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a tattoo artist – and Wolf Nguyễn made the most of it.
Vietnam Award: 1st Place Big Realistic Black and Grey – Vietnam Tattoo Expo 2018
That same year, at the Vietnam Tattoo Expo (roughly 2,000 attendees, 100 booths, with international artists from Taiwan, Russia, Italy and Germany, held in Hanoi), Wolf Nguyễn won 1st place in the Big Realistic Black and Grey category – the same category he’d already won at Ha Noi Inkfest 2016. The piece that won him this award was the very same Narcos tattoo he later brought to Taiwan I Love Tattoo 2018.
This marked the second time he took 1st place in the large-scale category — a sign that this is a consistent strength, not a one-off stroke of luck.
1st Place, Small Realistic Black and Grey – Vietnam Tattoo Expo 2018
At that same Vietnam Tattoo Expo 2018 where he won the large-scale category, Wolf Nguyễn also took 1st place in the Small Realistic Black and Grey category – for smaller-scale black and grey realism, which demands even more precision within a limited space, where a small error is far more noticeable than it would be on a large piece. Winning both the large and small categories at the same competition shows his Realistic Black and Grey skill isn’t tied to the size of the piece.
2nd Place, Fantasy Realistic Black and Grey – Vietnam Tattoo Convention 2017
A year after his first award, Wolf Nguyễn took on a tougher category: Fantasy Realistic — combining fantastical elements (creatures, characters that don’t exist in real life) with black and grey realism technique, which requires both the precise shading of standard realism and the creativity to invent an image from scratch rather than copy a reference photo. He took 2nd place in this category — proof his skill extends beyond faithful reproduction into original creative work.
His First Award: 1st Place, Big Realistic Black and Grey – Ha Noi Inkfest 2016
This was the very first award of Wolf Nguyễn’s competitive career, won at Ha Noi Inkfest in 2016 — two years before his international win in Taiwan. In the same Big Realistic Black and Grey category he’d later defend at Vietnam Tattoo Expo 2018, this early win shows his strength in large-scale realism was established early on, not something recent.
Book a Tattoo With Wolf Nguyễn
If you’re looking for a large-scale realistic piece — a portrait, a landscape, or a highly detailed full-back tattoo – Wolf Nguyễn is the artist best suited to bring it to life. See more of his work or book a consultation with him directly.
Horituan – Japanese Traditional and Oriental Tattoo Artist
Horituan has more than 10 years of experience, specializing in Japanese Traditional and Oriental tattooing. His style grew out of a childhood love of comics, later refined after spending time observing tattoo artists at work in Japan’s cherry blossom regions. His signature is bold panels of ink that flow naturally with the body, in a strong contrasting red-and-black palette, rather than the blue-red or purple-yellow tones more commonly seen in traditional Japanese work. He currently holds 3 awards (2 domestic, 1 international), and his booking calendar at Electric Tattoo tends to fill up early.
Asia Award: 1st Best of Large Work – Chiang Mai Tattoo Time 2024
Chiang Mai Tattoo Time is “one of the most respected tattoo competitions in Asia.” There, Horituan won Best of Large Work – a category for large-scale pieces like full sleeves or full-back tattoos, where the composition has to stay cohesive and flow naturally across a large area of skin.
1st Place Best of Oriental – Saigon Tattoo Expo 2022
At the Saigon Tattoo Expo — an annual event now in its 5th edition (as of 2025), drawing over 300 artists from Vietnam and abroad, and described by media as one of the largest tattoo festivals in Vietnam — Horituan won 1st place in the Best of Oriental category in 2022, with a piece in the Asian traditional style (dragons, phoenixes, traditional motifs).
Saigon Tattoo Expo 2022 – 3rd Place, Best of Collab
At the same Saigon Tattoo Expo 2022 where he won Best of Oriental, Horituan also took 3rd place in the Best of Collab category – for a piece done in collaboration with other artists on the same client, which requires matching another artist’s style while still keeping his own signature intact. Winning two awards at the same event shows he’s not just strong working solo, but adaptable when working as part of a team.
Book a Tattoo With Horituan
If you want Japanese, Oriental-style work, or a large-scale piece covering a full sleeve or back, this is an artist who has proven his skill on both the domestic and international stage. See more of Horituan’s work or book a consultation now.
Why Choose Electric Tattoo
- Quality proven at an international level. 2 of the studio’s 8 awards were won internationally, in direct competition against artists from other countries — not just recognition at home.
- Award-winning artists mean proven skill, not just promises. Both Wolf Nguyễn and Horituan hold awards confirmed by independent judging panels at real, large-scale competitions with hundreds of participating artists.
- Transparent, clear pricing, with no markup for either local or international clients. Costs are communicated upfront before any tattooing begins, with no hidden fees, whether you’re a local or a visitor.
- Lifetime warranty on every tattoo. Electric Tattoo backs every piece with a lifetime warranty, so clients can trust the durability and quality of their tattoo over time.Bảo hành trọn đời cho hình xăm. Electric Tattoo cam kết bảo hành trọn đời, giúp khách hàng an tâm về độ bền và chất lượng hình xăm theo thời gian.
Free Design Consultation and Booking
Before any tattoo session, you’ll get a consultation covering the right style, size, placement and time required – completely free, with no cost for booking or discussing your initial idea. This step ensures both you and the artist are confident in the design before starting, which matters even more for large-scale pieces like the award-winning work from Wolf Nguyễn and Horituan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you tell if a tattoo shop in Hanoi is actually reputable? Beyond reviews and portfolios, two objective signals are: a track record in tattoo competitions judged by fellow artists, and independent press coverage. Electric Tattoo has both – 8 awards from 2016–2024, including Wolf Nguyễn’s international win, which was covered by VietnamNet, VOV and Saostar.
What was Wolf Nguyễn’s award-winning international piece? A full-back tattoo themed around Narcos, done in the Realistic Black and Grey technique, which won 1st place in the Best Realistic category at Taiwan I Love Tattoo 2018 – a competition held only once every 10 years, drawing over 300 artists worldwide.
Should I book with Wolf Nguyễn or Horituan for my style? If you want large-scale or highly detailed realism, Wolf Nguyễn is the right fit, with 5 awards in exactly this style. If you want Japanese, Oriental-style work, or a large piece covering a full sleeve or back, Horituan is the specialist for that.
Does Electric Tattoo offer a warranty? Yes – Electric Tattoo backs every tattoo with a lifetime warranty policy.
Is the design consultation free? Yes – design consultations and bookings at Electric Tattoo are completely free.
Book Your Free Consultation
Whether you’re considering a small mini tattoo or a large project that will take several sessions, let Electric Tattoo walk you through a transparent consultation right here and quote:
- Location 1: 18th Floor, B14 Building, Phạm Ngọc Thạch, Đống Đa, Hanoi
- Location 2: 59C Lý Nam Đế, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi
- Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 9:30 PM, everyday
- Hotline/WhatsApp: (+84) 94 391 3174
- Facebook: ElectricTattooStudio
- Instagram: electric.tattoo.vn
