Hỏa Lò Prison, Former prison and historical museum in central Hanoi, Vietnam
The museum displays artifacts, prison cells, documents, and photographs throughout its rooms, preserving the original architecture of the French colonial period.
French colonists constructed this prison between 1886 and 1901 to detain Vietnamese political prisoners, later housing American soldiers during the Vietnam War.
The exhibits present multiple perspectives of incarceration periods through personal objects, letters, and testimonies from both Vietnamese and international prisoners.
Located at the intersection of Hoa Lo and Hai Ba Trung streets, the museum welcomes visitors daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The facility contains an original French guillotine used for executions, along with the flight suit worn by Senator John McCain during his imprisonment.
Location: Hanoi
Inception: 1896
Architects: Auguste Henri Vildieu
Address: 1 Phố Hỏa Lò Hà Nội
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 08:00-17:00
Phone: +84439342253
Website: http://hoalo.vn/EN
GPS coordinates: 21.02528,105.84639
Latest update: May 26, 2025 19:17
Vietnam preserves numerous military and prison sites that bear witness to the conflicts between 1955 and 1975. These facilities include defensive tunnel networks, converted colonial prisons, combat bases, and memorials. Visitors can trace the progression of the conflict across different regions of the country, from the Mekong Delta to northern provinces and the central highlands. Notable locations include the Vinh Moc tunnels, where 60 families lived underground during bombings; Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi, which recounts the country's prison history; and the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City with its collections of equipment and documents from the era. The Khe Sanh base offers insight into military operations conducted near border areas, while the Son My memorial commemorates civilian casualties. These sites provide a direct perspective on a period that has significantly shaped Vietnam’s history and help visitors understand the ground realities beyond broad narratives.
This collection brings together penal institutions that have marked the history of incarceration worldwide through their architecture, detention conditions, or roles in major historical events. From the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, established in 2002 for holding individuals suspected of terrorism, to high-security facilities like Red Onion in Wise County, Virginia, these sites document the evolution of penal systems across continents. Among the institutions transformed into memorial sites, Diyarbakır Prison in Turkey stands out for its conversion into a cultural center and museum since 2019. Its 24 dormitories spread over two floors, its cells, and corridors allow visitors to explore this chapter of Turkish penal history. In Argentina, Mendoza Prison, built in the early 20th century, reflects the prison practices of that era and the development of the regional judicial system. Other facilities remain operational and raise questions about prisoners' rights and incarceration conditions. Gldani Prison in Tbilisi caused national protests in 2012 after images exposing systemic abuses were released, leading to major reforms in the Georgian penal system. Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador continues to function as a correctional center in the eastern region of the country. These sites, spread across multiple continents, provide documented insights into penal practices in various political and social contexts. From Rwanda to North Korea, passing through Colombia and the United States, they help understand the evolution of judicial and correctional systems while raising current issues related to detention and rehabilitation.
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