Hoa Lo prison opening hours:
Opening time: From 8h00 to 17h00 every day (Including festivals and holidays)

ADD: No. 1 Hoa Lo, Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi
04.39342253
04.39342317
Email: bqldtnthl_sovhtt@hanoi.gov.vn

Tickets
Ticket price: 30.000đ/person

DISCOUNT 50% FOR::

– PUPILS, STUDENTS (with pupil or student card).
– DISABILITY.
– OLDERS (Vietnamese and over 60 year old).
– PEOPLE WITH SOCIAL POLICIES.

FREE FOR:

– CHILDREN UNDER 15 YEAR OLD.
– SPECIAL DISABILITY.
– PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE REVOLUTION.
– MEMBER OF GROUPS: Veterans, Evolution Liaison Committee, Liaison Committee of State Prisons.

Directions from other places:

1. Temple of Literature:
– Distance: 1,3 km
– Itinerary: Van Mieu street ⇔ Nguyen Thai Hoc street ⇔ Le Duan street ⇔ Hai Ba Trung street ⇔ Hoa Lo street
– Bus number: 34, 38, 45

2. St. Joseph’s Cathedral:
– Distance: 850 m
– Itinerary: Nha Chung street ⇔ Quang Trung street ⇔ Hai Ba Trung street ⇔ Hoa Lo street
– Bus number: 45

3. Hoan Kiem Lake:
– Distance: 1,1 km
– Itinerary: Dinh Tien Hoang street ⇔ Hang Khay street ⇔ Trang Thi street ⇔ Quang Trung street ⇔ Hai Ba Trung street ⇔ Hoa Lo street
– Bus number: 01

4. Tran Quoc pagoda:
– Distance: 4,4 km
– Itinerary: Thanh Nien street ⇔ Thuy Khue street ⇔ Hoang Hoa Tham street ⇔ Phan Dinh Phung street ⇔ Hoang Dieu street ⇔ Nguyen Thai Hoc street ⇔ Le Duan street ⇔ Hai Ba Trung street ⇔ Hoa Lo street
– Bus number: 45

Hoa Lo prison  Introduction:
Hoa Lo prison was built in 1896 by french in a famous pottery village – Phu Khanh Village, Vinh Xuong, Tho Xuong District in Ha Noi. Hoa Lo was one of the biggest prisons built by the French in Indochina.

From a famous pottery village, the prison was built to intern thousands of Vietnamese patriotic and revolutionary fighters. These prisoners were tortured physically and mentally. The living conditions here were appalling; poor quality food, poor sanitary conditions, many diseases and bad personal hygiene. However, the detained revolutionists still believed in the Communist Party by turning the prison into a revolutionary school where they dispersed the revolutionary causes. Many people successfully escaped from here, coming back to lead the general uprising.

Many patriots, revolution leaders of Vietnam, were captured in Hoa Lo prison, such as: Phan Boi Chau, Luong Van Can, Nguyen Quyen, Ho Tung Mau, Nguyen Luong Bang… and five General Secretaries of Viet Nam Communist Party: Nguyen Văn Cu, Truong Chinh, Le Duan, Nguyen Van Linh and Do Muoi..

In October, 1954, after the north of Vietnam was liberated, the Vietnam Government used Hoa Lo Prison to temporarily imprison regular prisoners.
From 05/8/1964 to 31/3/1973, a part of the prison was used to capture American pilots who were shot down during their bombing raids against North Vietnam. In this period, Hoa Lo was euphemistically called the “Ha Noi Hilton” by the prisoners in detention. “Alumni” of Hoa Lo include Douglas Peter Peterson, who later became the first US Ambassador to Viet Nam, and John McCain, a US Senator.

In 1993, in order to meet the economic development of Ha Noi, the Vietnamese government retained a part of Hoa Lo to transform into a historical relic. This part located in South – East of the prison was preserved, renovated and upgraded. Here, there is a memorial monument in dedication to the Vietnamese patriotic and revolutionary fighters. This is also a “Red Address” for educating Vietnamese people of all strata, especially young generations, on the patriotic and revolutionary traditions of those who sacrificed for the sake of the nation’s independence and freedom.

Source: hoalo