Hoa Lo Prison – popularly known as the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ and where POW’s were kept
Last Update: 24th October 2020
Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) was the largest prison France built in North Vietnam. In 1993, it was transformed into Hanoi Tower complex. One third of the south part of the prison was transformed into a prison museum. The museum introduces the French Indochina War and presents some instruments of torture used in the war.
- Name: Hoa Lo Prison (Hỏa Lò)
- Location: 1 Hoa Lo St., Phu Khanh village, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Things to do there: French Indochina War, Photography, Vietnam War
- Who visits: Photographers, History Lovers
- Time required: 1-2 hour
Some instruments of torture used in French Indochina War are in the original places in the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton). Originally, the French colonial government imprisoned and persecuted the Vietnamese revolutionaries.
The exhibits there demonstrates the hardship of the Vietnamese revolutionaries in the French Indochina War and how the American prisoners were tortured after being captured in Vietnam War. The instruments of torture show the cruelty of the war. The statues in the prison also let visitors imagine the hard life of the prisoners. Visitors will find the guillotine used by the French colonial government to kill the Vietnamese revolutionaries. In addition, several prisoner uniforms are well-preserved in the prison as well. It offers Vietnamese, French and English interpretations for the exhibits.
The best time to visit Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) is in the morning.
You could visit it around the year.
How to get to the Hoa Lo Prison
A few buses pass by the prison.
- Therefore, there are just a few options.Rent a vehicle to the prison. This is the quickest and most direct option.
- Take Bus 9 to the Stop of 49 Hai Bà Trưng-Tháp Hn. Then, walk to the prison.
- Take Bus 49 to the Stop of 59 Lý Thường Kiệt – Viện Năng Lương Nguyên Tử. Then, walk to the prison.
- Opening hours: 08:00 – 17:00
- As at 24th October 2020, the entrance pricing to the prison is 30,000 VND per person; children under 6 years old (6 years old not included) are free of charge. For the latest pricing information, please contact us via email (info@wendyweitours.com)
- Please don’t wear shorts, skirts and slippers in the museum.
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including Hoa Lo Prison, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.