The tattoo customs of the Drung ethnic minority originated in the late Ming Dynasty (about 350 years ago) when they were attacked by other ethnic groups and when the women were captured as slaves. To escape rape, the Drung women tattooed their faces to make themselves less attractive to the perpetrators. Although Drung women are not currently threatened by any other ethnic minorities, they have retained their tattoo custom as a powerful symbol of maturity.

Girls from the Drung ethnic minority had their faces tattooed when they turned 12 or 13 as a symbol of maturity. There are different explanations as to why the women tattoo their faces. Some people say that the Drungs consider a tattooed woman more beautiful and will not marry a woman without tattoos on her face.

First, an old woman would dip a bamboo slip into water mixed with soot and draw on the girl's face; then, she would beat a thorn into the skin with a small stick in the designed area and fill the pricked parts with soot. After the scabs had formed, a dark blue design remained on the face. The tattoos were applied between the eyebrows and around the mouth in a diamond shape, and on the cheek using dots to form a flying butterfly design.

This form of tattooing is popular in the upper reaches of the Drung River, while along the lower reaches, the tattoos are much simpler, with only two or three lines on the lower jaw.

Tattooing is also an ancient custom of the Dai people, which can still be found in some remote villages in the Dai-inhabited area or among older generations.

Both men and women were tattooed according to the Dai custom: men on their strong muscles and women on the back of their hands, arms or between the eyebrows.

Long ago, Dai children had designs pricked onto their skin when they were 5 or 6 since this was considered to be the best age. Later, they were tattooed at 14 or 15 as a symbol of reaching maturity.

There are no fixed designs in Dai tattoo, although most prefer tiger or dragon designs etched with black plant juice.

The Dai people have a long tattooing history. In ancient times, they lived by the river and were often hit by wild beasts. Later, they discovered that dark skin frightened the beasts and began tattooing themselves to prevent attacks.

As time went on, tattooing lost its original function to become a symbol of male boldness and bravery and female beauty. Today, tattoos are drawn on the backs of the hands as octagonal flower designs and a dot is tattooed between girls' eyebrows. With these tattoos, the Dai people can easily recognize their fellow members even when they are in costume.