A railway carriage in Vietnam becomes a moving gallery for folk art

A tourist train carriage on the Hanoi–Lao Cai railway has been transformed into a compact gallery showcasing Dong Ho Paintings, a traditional art form once widely present in Vietnamese households.

Conceived as “a moving cultural journey”, the project reinterprets the linear structure of a standard railway carriage into a spatial narrative. Rather than altering the original layout, which includes seven cabins connected by a continuous corridor, the design amplifies this linearity to create a sequence of curated visual moments.

The interior draws inspiration from traditional wooden houses in northern Vietnam. A system of dark timber frames is introduced throughout the space, functioning both as architectural elements and as custom display structures for the artworks. These frames extend beyond conventional picture borders, forming a modular composition that integrates the paintings into the walls.

Instead of presenting artworks individually, the project organizes them into clustered compositions across key visual points, such as the carriage entrances and the corridor’s end wall. This strategy transforms circulation into an exhibition route, where passengers encounter different scenes along their movement.

Additional details, including door elements, ceiling patterns and small decorative motifs, continue this visual language into the cabins. A recurring floral symbol, derived from traditional Vietnamese ornamentation, reinforces the connection between interior space and cultural context.

All materials and finishes emphasize craftsmanship, reflecting the handmade nature of Dong Ho paintings, which are traditionally produced using woodblock printing and natural pigments. The project also includes a small display explaining this technique, allowing visitors to better understand the making process.

By embedding folk art into a contemporary spatial system, the design proposes a new way of engaging with tradition — one that is accessible, immersive, and integrated into everyday experience.

PROJECT INFORMATION / CREDITS

Location: Vietnam
Project type: Interior / Adaptive reuse
Client: CHAPA TRAVEL JSC.
Design: PMH Studio
Photographer: Cao Hòa
Train: Chapa Express
Program: Tourist railway carriage
Completion: 2025