Con Dao Prison

A prison system that operated for 113 years on Con Son Island, now a Special National Relic and a place of patriotic education

Con Dao Prison is a system of detention camps that operated for 113 years, from 1862 to 1975, and is now a Special National Relic, one of four special national relics of Ho Chi Minh City, alongside the Independence Palace, the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Ben Loc An Ho Chi Minh Trail at Sea Relic. The components of the system were recognised by the Prime Minister on 10 May 2012. From 1862 to 1940, the French successively built Banh 1, Banh 2 and Banh 3 camps, later called Phu Hai, Phu Son, Phu Tho and Phu Tuong camps, along with the French tiger cages and the Chuong Bo (Cattle Pen) isolation area. In a later period, Phu Phong, Phu An, Phu Binh and Phu Hung camps were added. The command centre for the entire system was the Governor's Palace (Dinh Chua dao). Today, these relics are places of patriotic education for generations of Vietnamese. The signature route takes in Con Dao Museum, the Governor's Palace, Pier 914, Phu Hai Camp, the French tiger cages and the American tiger cages (Phu Binh Camp); a second route visits Hang Duong Cemetery, Con Dao Temple and the Chuong Bo relic. A combined ticket covers five sites: Con Dao Museum, the Governor's Palace, Phu Hai Camp, the French tiger cages and Phu Binh Camp. Visit in the morning, when it is cool and the sun is gentler; groups should register in advance by phone with the management board. When visiting, dress respectfully, do not bring plastic bags and do not buy from street vendors at the relic sites.

English text: machine translation from the Localis platform — proper names kept in Vietnamese.