Hoa Lo Prison

History museum · Hanoi

Hoa Lo Prison

History museum · Hanoi

1 P. Hoả Lò, Trần Hưng Đạo, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Highlights

Former prison, now museum, detailing French & Vietnam War history

1 P. Hoả Lò, Trần Hưng Đạo, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam Get directions

hoalo.vn

@afar

"Perhaps the most relevant museum in Hanoi for American visitors is the Hoa Lo Prison Museum, popularly known as the "Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War. Its exterior is a strangely cheery yellow, and it was part of a complex built by the French around the turn of the 20th century. You’ll know you’ve reached the building when you see its original French name, Maison Centrale, in bold letters above the entrance. The exhibits cover both the French treatment of Vietnamese prisoners and the U.S. soldiers and pilots housed here during the Vietnam War—including Senator John McCain, who was detained here from 1967 to 1973. (His flight suit is among the displays.) A visit can be a powerful, and at times emotionally difficult, experience."

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Suhen R

Google

Stepping into Hoa Lo Prison was like walking back in time. The dark cells, heavy doors, and detailed exhibits created a somber atmosphere that really conveyed the weight of its history. The information throughout was clear and engaging, making the stories of the past feel vivid and real. It wasn’t crowded during my visit, so I could wander quietly and reflect, spending about an hour inside. The entry fee was very reasonable for such a powerful experience. With half the site outdoors and little air conditioning inside, the heat added to the intensity of the visit. A haunting yet unforgettable stop in Hanoi.

Chelsea Coupe

Google

Must do experience! This museum is in the actual prison, very informative & well presented showing the last 100 years of war. Entry fee was cheap. Good rainy or half day activity. Although we did in about 1.5hrs. We caught a tuktuk from Old Quarter and it was great. They have a good audio guide incl. some recordings of actual Veterans for a price - don't bother with it if you don't mind reading what you're interested in (English, Vietnamese).

Rafael Manalo

Google

A Profound Journey Through Vietnam’s History Visiting Hoa Lo Prison was a deeply moving experience. The museum offers a stark and powerful glimpse into Vietnam’s turbulent past, from its days under French colonial rule to the Vietnam War. Walking through the preserved cells and exhibits, I was struck by the resilience and courage of those who endured unimaginable hardships within these walls. The displays are informative and thought-provoking, providing insight into the struggles for independence and the complexities of war. It’s a sobering reminder of the cost of freedom and the strength of the human spirit. A must-visit for anyone seeking to understand Vietnam’s rich and challenging history.

Ayeshia Faustine

Google

It was a nice visit to learn about the history of Vietnam! Audio guide is quite pricey but considering the amount of informations it holds, it can be useful. The complex of the prison is quite big and some rooms really have detailed explanations. I suggest you to take audio guide if you’re coming here so all things seen can be understood well. They even had the execution thing they used before. It was very sad to see but important to really learn about it. All in all, an interesting visit! You could get by with part of the city tour bus - hop on hop off or you can just come straight away here, which what we did on our first day exploring Hanoi. It’s not too far from Old Quarter area if you don’t mind walking around

Joe McCright

Google

Very interesting and well presented history lesson, especially for those of us who don’t know much of Vietnam’s history. Audio guide is well done. The museum was crowded but we went on a holiday so we chose a bad day to visit.

Danni Jay Luke Danis

Google

Wow. Experiencing something like this creates a whole new chapter in your life. Understanding how people experienced this gave me a diff sense of life and meaning. The exhibitions gave you a real feel of how it was back then, real examples/stories and actual exhibits put you through it mentally and physically. No one should go thru life like that, but history is what it is. The location is easy to spot, lots of people, but more than enough space to take your time to learn a part of history that many would never double click into. It’s amazing, life-enhancing and a story that we all should learn about :) and the staff was AWESOME despite the heat and the number of tourists they had to manage. Thank you! :)

Hazel Day Gil

Google

One of the experiences I looked forward to the most before going to Hanoi was visiting Hoa Lo Prison, and it didn't disappoint. The museum is thoroughly educational and really gives you a sense of what life was like there, and shares a lot about those who were imprisoned there from French colonial rule, until during the duration of the Vietnamese-American War. I have to say that the Vietnamese truly do have deep commitment to and extreme talent in preserving these historical artifacts and turning them into an educational experience. Not all countries or cultures are this invested in taking the trauma and turmoil from their past and turning it into a lesson. It's been two weeks since we came home from Vietnam and I still find myself thinking about the displays there: the clothes used by prisoners, the torture items, the stories we read. It was extremely eye-opening and reminded me of the effects of war on us all. At the end of the exhibit, you can light an incense stick for the soul of those who passed during the war, and those who passed in Hoa Lo Prison. There is an option to get a human guide or an audio guide, but we opted to go without either. It was still an educational experience. Tickets were 50k dong I think, and you would need an hour and a half to soak up the whole exhibit.

Gaurav Agrawal

Google

Once a prison now converted to museum Originally built by French colonists for local revolutionaries. Then used by Vietnamese to held us war prisoners. This museum is well organised and maintained. It mostly displays the recreated environment of torture and bad conditions of Vietnamese prisoners by French. There are various sections of the museum There are screens giving a vedio presentation about museum and subject it displayed There is also a memorial built to pay tribute in the courtyard of prison. A section also displays about the period when us soilderd were held as POW. This place is tickted It will take more than an hour to visit this museum