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Con Dao Prison is a famous historical site associated with many heroic chapters of the nation. Many visitors here cannot hold back their tears when witnessing the scenes that recreate the brutal reality. To understand more about this special tourist destination, let’s explore with NVK Travel in the following article.
Below are some basic information about this historical site that every Vietnamese should know.
Dubbed the "hell on earth," this place imprisoned a large number of political prisoners during wartime. Not only did they detain prisoners in the usual way, but the colonizers also used many unimaginable brutal torture methods. Con Dao Prison is the clearest testament to the pain that our nation had to endure throughout the process of fighting against foreign invaders.
Aerial view of Con Dao Prison
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Today, this place has been transformed into a famous historical and spiritual tourist destination throughout the region. The reenactments are enough to make visitors feel the immense suffering that our ancestors went through. Many foreign tourists are also moved by the fierce scenes before their eyes.
The historical site is located in the Con Dao archipelago, Con Dao district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Situated right in the center of the town, the destination is about 230km from the mainland. Visitors can choose to travel by water or air to get there. Holding a special position among the distant islands, it inevitably became an ideal location for the French colonizers and the American empire to choose as their "hell on earth."
Many brutal torture methods used by the invaders
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Using stone, steel, and cement as the main materials, this place was built extremely solidly. The prison is divided into many separate areas, with each type of prison assigned according to the danger level of the prisoners. Each detention area holds hundreds of people, while the design was originally not capable of accommodating that number.
Now, let’s explore the formation process of this historically significant site.
The French colonizers decided to build this hell after the Treaty of Nham Tuat was signed in 1862. With its remote offshore location, the colonizers thought that imprisoning revolutionary prisoners here would make it difficult for them to return.
The invaders used many cruel torture methods to erode the fighting spirit and destroy the patriotism of the soldiers. In reality, the more they beat our troops, the more determined they became. The more brutal they were, the more our ancestors' national spirit surged, resolutely determined to gain independence at all costs.
Con Dao Prison in its early days
Con Dao Prison is a site associated with many important milestones in the history of the Vietnamese nation.
This "hell on earth" includes a system of 11 large and small prisons. Each area applies a special form of torture, and many places have become an indelible nightmare in the hearts of the soldiers.
This is the oldest prison
Phu Hai Prison is the oldest prison in Con Dao Prison. Built in 1862 with thick stone walls, the space is extremely damp and cramped. Many prominent revolutionaries such as Nguyen An Ninh and Le Hong Phong were once imprisoned here. This area was the largest detention center in the system for many decades.
Many struggles took place here
Phu Son Prison was built in 1919, located next to Phu Hai Prison. This place was overcrowded with prisoners, and the suffocating feeling haunted them every day. They were not provided with normal living conditions, and the living environment was no different from that of insects. This was the site of many uprisings and struggles in the early 20th century.
The brutal torture methods at Phu Cuong Prison
Phu Cuong Prison is the clearest evidence of the "hell on earth" label of Con Dao Prison. In 1940, the French colonizers built the "French-style tiger cage" designed as narrow cells. Above, there was a system of iron mesh for easy surveillance and torture of prisoners. Hundreds of soldiers could not withstand the brutality and heroically perished here.
The cruelty of the American-style tiger cage
Many people call it "hell within hell," which shows the terrifying brutality of this area. Phu Binh Prison was built by the American empire after 1954 along with the "American-style tiger cage."
The ceiling here is designed to be low, causing the heat to reach unbearable levels. Prisoners' feet are shackled, and the living conditions are so poor that they cannot eat or drink. This is one of the most brutal prisons in the Con Dao Prison system.
Similar to its name "isolation area," prisoners here are completely separated from the outside world. The dark space without any light, thick stone walls, and cold cement floors are the nightmares of many soldiers. The soldiers had to live in extreme deprivation, with their feet shackled and their spirits tortured to the extreme.
There are many other brutal torture methods that soldiers had to endure
In addition to the notorious prisons mentioned above, Con Dao Prison also has many areas that are equally brutal, such as Phu Tho, Phu Hung, Phu An, and Phu Hoa. Whether large or small, each area applies a harsh management regime, cruel torture, and forced labor. This cruelty is the reason for many heroic struggles of the nation.
The main means of transportation to the historical site are airplanes and high-speed boats. Depending on finances and needs, each traveler will have suitable options.
Flying is the ideal choice for those travelers who want to save time. Currently, direct flights to Con Son include Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and Hanoi. Travelers only take about 60 minutes to reach the island. From the landing point, you can take a taxi to travel about 15km more to reach Con Dao Prison.
Everyone should visit here at least once
Although the travel time is longer, high-speed boats provide a very interesting experience of crossing the sea. The boats are fully equipped with necessary items, air conditioning, and optimally designed seats to ensure maximum comfort for travelers. Popular boat trips currently include:
Con Dao Prison is a place that marks the great loss of the nation, a place that witnessed the difficult-to-heal wounds throughout the history of our country. Every Vietnamese citizen, especially the youth, should visit here once to commemorate the contributions of the previous generations. Contact NVK Travel immediately for support attractive Con Dao tours other.
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