Hoa Lo Prison, known by the ironic nickname ‘Hanoi Hilton’, offers an insight into a darker chapter of Vietnam’s modern history. I found it an interesting place to visit, and one that you can easily fit into a stroll through the centre of Hanoi.

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What you’ll see inside

The prison was founded in 1896 by the French and was used primarily to imprison Vietnamese opponents of the colonial regime.

Later, during the Vietnam War, downed US pilots were held here. It was the American prisoners of war who gave the prison its nickname, the Hanoi Hilton.

Only part of the original complex remains, which you can now explore as a museum. You will see, in particular:

• Communal prison cells with mannequins depicting prisoners in chains.
• Solitary confinement cells and a guillotine, serving as a reminder of the harsh conditions of imprisonment.
• Photographs and artefacts belonging to American prisoners of war from the Vietnam War era.

How much time to allow

There aren’t that many exhibits, so the length of your visit depends mainly on how much detail you want to explore in each story:

• 20–30 minutes: a quick tour of the cells and the main exhibits.
• 45–60 minutes: if you want to read the information panels or use the audio guide.

You can hire an audio guide at the entrance; it is also available in English. You select the commentary according to the numbers of the individual stops.

Admission and opening hours

• 💰 Admission: 50 000 vnd; children under 16 go free.
• 💳 Payment:cash only.
• 🕒 Opening hours: daily 8.00–17.00, including public holidays.

You can buy your ticket directly at the ticket office. Current admission prices and terms and conditions can be found on the official Hoa Lo Prison website.

How to get to the prison

The entrance is located at 1 Hỏa Lò, south-west of Hoan Kiem Lake. Allow about 15 minutes’ walk from the western shore of the lake.

You can combine your visit with a trip to the nearby St Joseph’s Cathedral or continue on to the Temple of Literature.

If you’re travelling by Grab, enter ‘Hoa Lo Prison’. We describe other transport options in the section on Transport in Hanoi.

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