Known as the Hanoi Hilton, this notorious prison was where American POWs were held including the future Senator John McCain. It was originally built in the late 19th century by the French, who called it Maison central a traditional term used in France for prisons. It was renovated in 1913 where the capacity was increased from 460 to 600 inmates. By 1954 more than 2000 people where housed there.
During the Vietnam War the first inmates sarcastically gave the prison it’s nickname. Today it is a museum that tells the story of its notorious past. Only a small part of the prison exists. The displays depict the prison life during the French colonial era. This includes the guillotine room, which still houses the original equipment. There are separate quarters for male and female political prisoners.
!steemitworldmap 21.025584 lat 105.846357 long ‘Hoa Lo Prison D3SCR
Other Hanoi Attractions can be found here:
#1 Cua Bac Church: @inseasia/hanoi-attractions
#2 Hoan Kiem Lake. @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-2-hoan-kiem-lake
#3 Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-3-ho-chi-minh-mausoleum
#4 The Vietnamese Museum of Ethnology @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-the-vietnam-museum-of-ethnology
#5 Truc Bach Lake @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-5-truc-bach-lake
#6 Quan Thanh Temple @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-6-quan-thanh-temple
#7 Vietnam Museum of Revolution @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-7-vietnam-museum-of-revolution
#8 Hanoi Opera House @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-8-hanoi-opera-house
#9 Vietnam Military History Museum @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-9-vietnam-military-history-museum
#10 St. Joseph’s Cathedral @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-10-st-joseph-s-cathedral
#11 Temple of Literature @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-11-the-temple-of-literature
#12 The Tran Quoc Pagoda @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-12-the-tran-quoc-pagoda
#13 West Lake http://www.inseasia.com/listing/west-lake-hanoi/
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