Short history about Con Dao prison island
Con Dao Island, also known as Poulo Condore, is a group of 16 mostly uninhabited islands off the southern coast of Vietnam. During the French colonial period, the French built a prison on Con Son, the largest island in the group, to hold Vietnamese political prisoners. After the French, the prison was taken over by the South Vietnamese government and used to hold political prisoners again, particularly those associated with the Viet Cong.
The prison was notorious for its brutal treatment of inmates, including torture, starvation, and execution. The prison was closed after the reunification of Vietnam in 1975, and in 1996, it was turned into a museum to educate visitors about the island’s history.
What to see and experience
The Con Dao Prison Museum is an important historical site that depicts the brutal living conditions of Vietnamese prisoners during the French and American occupations. The museum is divided into several sections, each representing different parts of the prison system. Visitors can learn about the history of the prison through exhibits, artifacts, and photographs. The museum also provides audio guides and written information in both Vietnamese and English to enhance the learning experience.
In addition to the exhibits, visitors can explore the grounds of the former prison, which includes the cells and facilities used to house the prisoners. One of the most moving experiences is visiting the “Tiger Cages,” small and cramped cells where prisoners were kept in isolation and subjected to inhumane treatment.
The museum also offers a short film about the prison, providing an insightful and emotional overview of the prison’s history. Overall, the Con Dao Prison Museum is a poignant and sobering experience that offers a glimpse into the suffering and resilience of Vietnamese prisoners during a dark period in the country’s history.
Visiting Con Dao Prison Museum
The Con Dao Prison Museum is located on Con Dao Island and is open daily from 7:30 am to 11:00 am and from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm. The entrance fee is 20,000 VND per person. There is no specific dress code, but you are advised to dress modestly out of respect for the solemn atmosphere of the site.
The museum is located at 06 Ton Duc Thang Street, Con Dao district, Ba Ria – Vung Tau province. To get there, you can take a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao Island or take a ferry from Vung Tau. Once on the island, it is easy to reach the museum by taxi or motorbike.
It is best to allocate at least 1-2 hours to visit the museum, and to keep in mind that the atmosphere can be quite solemn and emotional. It is recommended to visit in the morning to avoid the afternoon heat and to fully experience the museum.
Other related sights on Con Dao
Hang Duong Cemetery: This is the largest cemetery on Con Dao Island, where many of the political prisoners who died in Con Dao’s prisons were buried.
Phu Hai Prison: This prison was built in the 1940s by the French colonial authorities and later used by the South Vietnamese government. Today, you can see the remaining prison buildings and learn about the conditions that prisoners endured.
