1. Con Dao Prison - "Hell on Earth"

Historical significance

Con Dao Prison is one of the most tragic and brutal historical relics of the Vietnamese people. Under the rule of the French colonialists and then the US-Republic of Vietnam government, this place became a living proof of the brutal repression of revolutionary soldiers and patriots. With a solid prison system, savage torture methods and harsh living conditions, Con Dao was once known as "Hell on earth".

History of formation

French colonial rule (1862 - 1954)
Day 01/02/1862, Governor of Cochinchina Bonard signed a decision to establish Con Dao prison, turning the island into a place to exile political prisoners. During the French rule, the prison system was continuously expanded, including many harsh detention areas such as Phu Hai Camp, Phu Tuong Camp and especially the area French Tiger Cage, where prisoners were held in cramped, dark rooms and subjected to horrific torture.

The period of US - Republic of Vietnam rule (1955 - 1975)
After the French colonialists withdrew from Indochina in 1954, the Republic of Vietnam government took over Con Dao and continued to use the prison on a larger scale. With the support of the United States, the prison system was further expanded with detention areas such as American Tiger Cages, Phu Binh Camp, where revolutionary soldiers were tortured with extremely cruel methods. This was also the period when Con Dao prison was strengthened to suppress, imprisoning tens of thousands of political prisoners.

After 1975
When the country was completely unified, the Con Dao prison system was officially dissolved. In 1979, the Ministry of Culture and Information recognized the Con Dao Historical Relic Site as a national relic, with 17 component relics, becoming a place to preserve the heroic but also painful memories of the Vietnamese people.

Throughout its 113 years of existence (1862 - 1975), Con Dao prison has imprisoned about 200,000 political prisoners and have about 20,000 people died here. The revolutionary soldiers had to undergo terrible torture, endure hunger, disease and countless inhuman punishments. To date, relic sites such as French Tiger Cages, American Tiger Cages, Stone Pits, Cow Dung Pits still there, is the clearest proof of the fierce years of struggle of our fathers.

Con Dao prison system

Historically, the French colonial government and the American empire built many prisons and isolation areas, including:

In addition, the prison system also has areas such as:

• Cow Shed Isolated Area – A place where prisoners are held under extremely harsh conditions.
• Lime Kiln – Where prisoners are forced to do hard labor.
• Public House – The place where interrogations and torture take place.
• Pier 914 – The place marks the sacrifice of hundreds of prisoners during the construction of the bridge.
• Hang Duong Cemetery – The resting place of thousands of revolutionary soldiers.

The most prominent prisons and areas in the Con Dao prison system are:

Phu Hai Prison – The Oldest Prison

Phu Hai Camp, also known as Ball 1, Lao 1, Republican Camp, built in 1862 and solidly expanded in 1896. This is the largest and oldest prison camp in Con Dao, with a total area of up to 12.040m².

The camp has a solid structure with 2 main prison blocks, 20 solitary confinement cells, an infirmary, a chapel, a lecture hall and a stone-breaking area where prisoners are forced to do hard labor. In addition, the camp also has a club, a supervisor's house and is surrounded by a system of walls over 4m high and many guard posts to strictly control prisoners.

Phu Son Camp – A solid prison with a strict control system

Phu Son Camp (also known as Nhan Vi Camp) was built in 1916, located next to Phu Hai Camp, with an area of 13.228m². The camp structure includes 13 large prisons, 14 solitary confinement cells, a barber shop, a shrine, a medical room, a kitchen, a supervisor's room, and a green area. The camp is surrounded by a 4-meter-high stone wall system with many guard posts to control the prisoners.

French Tiger Cage – Symbol of Brutality

The French Tiger Cages were where the most resilient revolutionaries were imprisoned. With a narrow, dark design, covered with thick iron bars, this was a harsh tool of repression aimed at breaking the prisoners' will.

The camp, which covers a total area of 5,475 square meters, includes 120 cells and 60 “sunbathing rooms” – where prisoners are exposed to the scorching sun or rain, without food or water. Prison guards often torture them by poking them from above, sprinkling lime powder or pouring dirty water on them.

American Tiger Cages – Hell on Earth

The American Tiger Cages, also known as Phu Binh Camp, was built on an area of 25,788m², divided into 8 detention camps (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H). Each camp had 48 isolated cells, surrounded by barbed wire fences and solid concrete walls. This prison system was designed to isolate and torture prisoners with harsh measures such as beatings, starvation, and confinement in hot or humid environments for many days.

2. Experience visiting Con Dao prison

Location and opening hours

• Con Dao prison system is located on the axis Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, Con Dao Town Center, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province.
• Opening hours: From 8:00 to 18:00.

Moving instructions

Whether you depart from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or other provinces, there are many options to get to Con Dao, depending on your needs and suitable means of transport. Below are the popular ways to travel:

By plane

From April 1, 2024, Vietnam Airlines is the only airline operates flights to Con Dao from Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho, with a flight time of approximately 45 minutes. If departing from other localities, you need to transfer via Ho Chi Minh City or Can Tho.

After landing, you can travel to the town center (13km from the airport, about 20 minutes) by taxi, hotel shuttle or motorbike taxi.

By speedboat

If you want to combine sea travel, you can take a bus or drive yourself to one of the following ports:

• Cat Lo Port (Vung Tau)
• Tran De Port (Soc Trang)
• Ninh Kieu Wharf (Can Tho)

From here, continue by speedboat to Con Dao, with a time of 1.5 - 4 hours depending on the route. When arriving at Ben Dam port, you can rent a taxi or motorbike to go to the prison relics (about 11km).

Helicopter

In addition to civil aircraft, you can choose helicopters operated by Southern Helicopter Company. Currently, there is only route Vung Tau – Con Dao, with frequency of 2 flights/week enter Friday and Sunday.

• Flight time: 60 minutes.
• Departure point: Vung Tau Airport (38 30/4 Street, Vung Tau City).
• Destination: Con Dao Airport (Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau).

Reference ticket price

• Adult: About 40,000 VND/person.
• Students, seniors: About 20,000 VND/person.
• Children under 6 years old: Free of charge.

You will visit all 4 places: Phu Hai Prison, Phu Tuong (French Tiger Cages), Phu Binh (American Tiger Cage), Dinh Chua Dao.

Sightseeing activities

Creepy feeling when entering Tiger Cage

The French Tiger Cages and the American Tiger Cages are the most realistic representations of the brutality of the detention regime. When entering, visitors can feel the suffocation and oppression with the intricate iron bars, narrow passageways and models of tortured prisoners. These realistic images help visitors better understand the pain that revolutionary soldiers had to endure.

Hear stories from historical witnesses

If you are lucky, you may meet former political prisoners who were imprisoned in Con Dao. Their touching stories of their resilient and indomitable past will provide a more authentic and in-depth perspective on history.

Offering incense at Hang Duong Cemetery

Not far from the prison, Hang Duong Cemetery is the resting place of more than 20,000 revolutionary soldiers, including Vo Thi Sau – a symbol of steadfast patriotism. At night, many visitors come here to burn incense, commemorate and pray in the sacred space.

Note when visiting

• Limit noise and maintain order to respect sacred spaces.
• Do not touch exhibits, follow museum staff instructions.
• Walk lightly and speak softly to maintain a solemn atmosphere.
• Bring water, hat or umbrella to avoid the heat.
• Con Dao prison is located near Con Dao Museum, you can combine sightseeing to have a more comprehensive view of the history here. See more: Discover Con Dao Museum: A journey back in history.

Con Dao Prison not only is it a historical relic, but it is also a symbol of patriotism and the indomitable will of our ancestors. The mossy stone walls, the rusty iron shackles and the stories of the harsh life here still echo as a reminder of the painful but proud past. Today, Con Dao has changed its appearance, becoming a famous tourist destination, but the memory of the "hell on earth" is still deeply imprinted in the mind of every person who sets foot on this sacred land.

Discover Con Dao - the land of history today!