Stepping back in time to a place no one would ever want to end up. Imagine your feet shackled day in day out, no food no bathroom only the screams of your fellow men in the same pain and suffering as you. What did I do to deserve this, why have my captures done this, why why.The only thing to do is escape or face the guillotine.
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Hoa Lo Prison was dubbed the “Hanoi Hilton” by American POWs. Today the former guard house remains as a museum with many historical artifacts on display. It provides a fascinating perspective, especially for American tourists who aren’t used to being painted in a negative light. The whole place takes maybe two hours to explore.
#mynovgetaway#awesomepic
rwwishart
Hoa Lo Prison offers a fascinating insight into French colonial history, the Vietnamese resistance movement & the prison's place in history as the "Hanoi Hilton" during the American/Vietnam war. Only a small section of the prison remains, & its early history is harrowing, but by the end of your visit it leaves you feeling a little uplifted about the power of international friendship.
#hanoi #vietnamwar
#happynewyear
Shannennash
Excellent museum and historic site. A very meaningful glimpse of colonial persecution of Vietnamese who wanted independence and democracy for their country. This is not just a museum but you enter the cells, touch the walls. Gift shop is very well done. #wintergetaway
#wintergetaway
Pondchanit
Additional Information
Introduction
Built by French colonial authorities to house political prisoners, Hoa Lo Prison became known as the “Hanoi Hilton” during and after the Vietnam War as the place where North Vietnam held US prisoners. Today the prison is a museum and memorial to the Vietnamese detainees who suffered often cruel treatment at the hands of French colonial authorities. Sections also detail the treatment of US prisoners, who are portrayed in a less than sympathetic light as would-be invaders. Given its history, Hoa Lo Prison is a fascinating and educational attraction.
Stepping back in time to a place no one would ever want to end up. Imagine your feet shackled day in day out, no food no bathroom only the screams of your fellow men in the same pain and suffering as you. What did I do to deserve this, why have my captures done this, why why.The only thing to do is escape or face the guillotine.
The dark side of Vietnamese history are well preserved at this historical site. Almost leaves you with a chill, but learning about Vietnam war (rather the 'American war') and its government from a different perspective was extremely fascinating.
An important part of Vietnams history. It'll show you the dark sides of French colonialism and the imprisonment of American soldiers during the war.
It’s never nice to visit a prison, but what it does do is give you a real insight into the grizzly history of the city you’re visiting. In the case of Hanoi, the Hoa Lo prison is now a museum which shows a few sections to visitors and the rest is kept kind of under wraps. You can see how prisoners were crammed into the small cells and made to go to the toilet in cave-like places. Not a nice thing to see but if you like learning about the real history, then you’ll feel like you came away with a true sense o how it was during the war
Also known as Hanoi Hilton. Relatively small museum but interesting and a good preview before the museums in Saigon (if you start in Saigon then might not be worth going to this one)