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During your trip to Phu Quoc Island, don’t forget to visit Phu Quoc Prison, a historical landmark retelling the resilient and persistent struggles of the Vietnamese people as well as the cruelty of colonialism. Let’s embark on a tour with Asia King Travel through this powerful tourist site to learn more about the war crimes in Vietnam!
Phu Quoc Prison, a remarkable historical site in Vietnam
Phu Quoc Prison is a historical landmark, situated at No.350 Nguyen Van Cu Road, An Thoi Ward, Phu Quoc City, An Giang Province, Vietnam. This large building was originally constructed and expanded by the French in 1946 to confine and torture Vietnamese soldiers. Now, it has become a symbol of the resilient fight against the invaders of the Vietnamese people.
The most popular travel method to Phu Quoc Island is by air. You’ll land at Phu Quoc Airport. From there, you can use different types of transportation, such as bikes, motorbikes, buses, and cars, to travel. You can also take a boat ride for island hopping.
Another option for those departing from southern cities like Ho Chi Minh City is by waterway. You can take a speedboat/ferry at Rach Gia (Rach Gia City, An Giang Province) or Ha Tien Harbor (Ha Tien City, An Giang Province), depending on which is nearer. The trip will take about 2-3 hours.
Phu Quoc Prison opens from 7 am to 5 pm every day. The relic has free entry. However, you should hire a tour guide to have a smooth experience and listen to the stories about the resilience and bravery of revolutionary prisoners here. The fee is quite reasonable, fluctuating between VND 100,000 and VND 200,000.
Tourists come here to learn more about the invaders’ sins in Vietnam
Phu Quoc Prison is open year-round, so you can choose a suitable time that fits with your travel plan. However, the ideal time is from November to June, since the rain is rare and the weather is mild, which makes your journey more enjoyable.
Back then, Phu Quoc Prison was known as Cay Dua Prison (Palm Tree). Built in 1946, this construction covered a total area of approximately 40 hectares, became the largest prison in Southeast Asia. This place was surrounded by barbed wire fences and extremely strictly guarded by fully equipped soldiers.
The prison was designed to be an ideal place for holding and torturing Vietnamese political prisoners. It consists of different buildings, many of which were used for brutal and inhumane forms of torture. During the wars, this prison camp held more than 40,000 prisoners and witnessed the deaths of thousands of them.
Today, Phu Quoc Prison stands as a powerful historical site, where tourists can learn about the fierceness of Vietnam’s resistance wars and better appreciate the value of peace and independence. Thanks to its historical value, Phu Quoc Prison was recognized as a National Historical Heritage in 1995 by the Department of Culture and Information.
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This prison genuinely recreates the cruelty that once happened here
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The whole construction is quite large and complicated in structure. Therefore, it’s recommended to hire a local guide to have the best understanding of the relic and make sure that you don’t skip any remarkable buildings.
There are 14 tourist areas inside. As you walk in, you can feel the cool and gloomy atmosphere here. Each area is well-preserved and recreates the poor conditions of prisoners in the most realistic and historically accurate way. Prepare yourself not to be scared by the cruelty that once happened in this on-land hell, especially when you’re going through the torture area.
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The tour guide retells the cruel torture in Phu Quoc Prison
Countless inhumane forms of torture were carried out here. For example, needling, where the guard used needles to slowly insert into the 10 fingertips of the victim. Or the barbed tiger cage, a type of cage made entirely of barbed wire, woven tightly around and on the roof. A group of prisoners would be put in there, only wearing shorts, and exposed themselves to the sun, dew, and rain all day and night. The sizes of the cages may vary to cause discomfort to prisoners: some can only lie or stand, some only sit hunched over.
The longer you stay in there, the more unbelievable things show off in front of your eyes. It’s never easy to imagine what used to happen in Phu Quoc Prison back then, but you’ll know more about the dark side of a war, and understand the sacrifice of the Vietnamese people for their motherland.
Don’t forget to visit the Sim Hill Martyrs Memorial, a symbolic construction of Phu Quoc Prison. This memorial site was built in 2013, on the foundation of a collective grave of more than 500 valiant Vietnamese soldiers, who died because of the cruel torture inside the jail.
You can easily spot a giant structure painted blue located in the middle of a circular foundation. Located in the center is a rectangular block carved with a human figure, and there are 2 large wave figures on both sides. The monument and both waves are meticulously designed to be associated with a fist, expressing the hatred and indomitable spirit of the soldiers against the enemy.
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The Sim Hill Martyrs Memorial
The Additional Exhibition House is divided into 2 rooms. Room 1 displays the artifacts, including daily necessities of prisoners and guards, and documents about the formation and existence of the prison camp. Besides, room 2 exhibits a collection of more than 100 documentary images about life in prison and the forms of torture used here.
By admiring a part of the history stored here, you will gain a deeper understanding of the resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people and the hardships they endured during their fight for national independence. This journey will absolutely leave you with lasting thoughts and emotions!
Walking into Phu Quoc Prison and looking at the historical buildings and artifacts feels like a trip back in time. You will have the most realistic viewpoint into the war conducted in Vietnam and its inhumane crimes against the Vietnamese people. If you’re interested in exploring this historical site and other charming attractions in Phu Quoc, don’t hesitate to chat with Asia King Travel. We’re here to bring the best experience for your journey!
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