Chi Hoa Prison, prison
Chi Hoa Prison is a large detention facility in Ho Chi Minh City with a distinctive octagonal shape. The structure features high walls, watchtowers at each corner, and eight connected cell blocks arranged around a central courtyard, accessed through a single main entrance.
The facility was planned in 1943 under Japanese occupation and completed by the French after the war, who imported building materials from Europe. It opened in 1953 and replaced an older overcrowded prison, relocating approximately 1600 inmates to the new site.
Chi Hoa serves as a place where Vietnamese history remains connected to daily operations and local storytelling. Residents associate it with tales rooted in the building's octagonal design and the lives of those who passed through its walls.
Visiting requires advance planning since security restrictions may limit access to the facility. Appropriate clothing and an understanding of current opening times are important when planning a visit to this location.
The octagonal design follows Chinese philosophy of the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, which some believe traps spirits within its walls. Local lore speaks of frequent lightning strikes and mysterious stories about the central water tower, said to function as a magical protective sword.
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