Con Dao Prison
Con Dao Prison
4.5
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
65 reviews
Excellent
39
Very good
19
Average
5
Poor
2
Terrible
0
JSTrip_77
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina1,202 contributions
Oct 2020
The largest and most visually striking of the Con Dao prisons Phu Hai contains the original tiger cages that, if you visit Hoa Lo prison in Hanoi (Hanoi "Hilton,") you'll see replicated. We did not take a guided tour but the minimal signage plus the physical structure of the prison itself was sufficient to tell the story . I'm not sure that this place is actually being left to rot like some reviewers say. This is a valuable, historical relic and a site for pilgrimage. If you're only going to visit one prison, this is probably the one you want to see.
Written October 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
LLFauntleroy
Key Biscayne, Florida108 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
This is an evocative experience because of the authenticity of the preserved prison cell blocks, combined with life-like hand crafted mannequins showing the inhuman conditions the prisoners endured. The Con Dao prison operated from 1864 to 1954 under the French, and until 1975 under the South Vietnamese military regime supported by the Americans. 21,000 political prisoners died there, some of whom were undoubtedly sent by American military units (i.e., captured Viet Cong). Among the many notable prisoners who later became the country's leaders were Madam Trương Mỹ Hoa (now age 70), who was vice president of Vietnam from 2002 to 2007; and her husband. They were both Con Dao political prisoners for over a decade. Madam Hoa spent one year in the infamous Tiger Cages exposed by Tom Harkin when he was a young staffer (who later became a US Senator from Iowa). There were boxes of white powder on display, which represented the lye that was dropped on them from above as torture. We were fortunate enough to meet Madam Hoa and her husband by chance during our tour.
I recommend going with a guide, although it is not mandatory. There are only a few explanatory placards in English, and without a guide, we would have come away with some gaps in our knowledge of this exhibit. We had an excellent private guide arranged through our hotel, the cost was only $25USD for two hours.
I recommend going with a guide, although it is not mandatory. There are only a few explanatory placards in English, and without a guide, we would have come away with some gaps in our knowledge of this exhibit. We had an excellent private guide arranged through our hotel, the cost was only $25USD for two hours.
Written August 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
GRtravelling
Seattle248 contributions
Dec 2020
A realistic and significant experience.
Opened up a vision as to what happened on the island.
Worth a visit.
Opened up a vision as to what happened on the island.
Worth a visit.
Written January 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Performante
Tychy, Poland74 contributions
Jan 2019 • Friends
Historical place, but only for a one time, and not more then 15 minutes. You can check how they live here in XIX nad XX century. Unfortunately, for me, there should be more photos, and historical informations about prisoners and their life in this place.
Written January 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
LuisSilveiro
Muscat, Oman401 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
Con Dao Prison is actually a series of 3 separate prison complexes on the island, all of which you can visit over a series of days at your own leisure. Admission is 20,000 VND (about 90US cents) and they give you a lovely pin badge that reads friends of Con Dao. Everything else that has been written here is true. The smell of the cells is still intoxicating. The mannequins reproducing scenes from prison life are shocking, this is why I would not recommend the complex to younger visitors. Everyone else should take a good couple of hours to walk around and understand the hell that this must have been. The ironic hell in paradise.
Written April 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
yrebeccalam
Saint John, IN44 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
A must see if you are in con dao. It is a reminder of the brutality of war. Not much explanation in English but you can feel the sadness and somber by just walking through the ground.
Written February 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rory
London, UK107 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
Before visiting Con Son, I was not aware of its past as home to a large prison camp. My partner and I hired bicycles and spend time visiting both the prison and the tiger cages, which certainly gave us a fresh insight into life on the islands over the last 300 years. The prison was simply presented and stands alongside my visits to Auschwitz and the Killing Fields of Cambodia. Room after too are simply
presented to visitors, some featuring mannequins showing the suffering of the prisoners. Whilst a visit can take as long or as short as you would like, we spent a solitary afternoon considering the suffering of those imprisoned here and. It was a sobering respite to the rest of our time on Con Son.
presented to visitors, some featuring mannequins showing the suffering of the prisoners. Whilst a visit can take as long or as short as you would like, we spent a solitary afternoon considering the suffering of those imprisoned here and. It was a sobering respite to the rest of our time on Con Son.
Written April 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cybercisco
Seoul, South Korea122 contributions
Dec 2016 • Solo
The whole place was empty, so there was no distraction at all. You could feel and/or imagine what happened here during the french occupation and especially later by the US imperialist soldiers during the American war.
I found that the mannequins added a very realistic and dramatic side to the visit.
I did wish there was more information in english along with pictures, videos.
I found that the mannequins added a very realistic and dramatic side to the visit.
I did wish there was more information in english along with pictures, videos.
Written December 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
HoMinh
Hanoi, Vietnam21 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
Con Dao prison perhaps is the biggest in Vietnam, with cells built during the time of both the French and the U.S. regime. Once there, you can feel the difference, while either way, it was made for people to suffer. It is better to be there on a sunny day, so you can actually feel better and less afraid, while rainy days are recommended for those seeking adventurous experience.
Written September 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sunny Hoang
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam27 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
The prison was built in 1861 by the French colonists to jail those considered specially dangerous to the colonist government. Many of the high-ranking leaders of Vietnam were detained here. It is ranked a special historical relic of national importance by the government of Vietnam.
Coming at the windy and scorching day, went along with the local tour guide of this Tiger cages. As a Vietnamese, we have to know how what and how the history happened. Poor for the patriotic Vietnamese soldier in that period. They were maltreated and beated ruthlessly... lots of feelings when seeing this historic sight seeing.
History is history, we show our repect to the history. Thanks for protecting the land to get the peace today. Since this actrattion is quite sensitive. Let's this hurtful lesson in mind, and don't let it affects our living, our relationship with our friends, our international friends.
Coming at the windy and scorching day, went along with the local tour guide of this Tiger cages. As a Vietnamese, we have to know how what and how the history happened. Poor for the patriotic Vietnamese soldier in that period. They were maltreated and beated ruthlessly... lots of feelings when seeing this historic sight seeing.
History is history, we show our repect to the history. Thanks for protecting the land to get the peace today. Since this actrattion is quite sensitive. Let's this hurtful lesson in mind, and don't let it affects our living, our relationship with our friends, our international friends.
Written July 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Con Dao Prison (Con Son) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Con Dao Prison
- Con Dao Prison is open:
- Sun - Sat 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM