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Vietnam

Hỏa Lò Prison (Maison Centrale)

Discover
Places to see
Vietnam

Hỏa Lò Prison (Maison Centrale)

Highlight • Historical Site

Hỏa Lò Prison (Maison Centrale)

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    December 25, 2025

    Hiking

    The Hoa Lo Prison (Hỏa Lò) in Hanoi is one of Vietnam's most historically significant and moving landmarks. It offers a profound insight into the country's turbulent history during the French colonial period and the Vietnam War.

    The prison was built in the late 19th century (around 1896) by the French colonial rulers to detain Vietnamese resistance fighters and political prisoners. It was infamous for its harsh conditions and the cruel treatment of its inmates.
    Translated by

    December 7, 2023

    Hiking

    The "Hanoi Hilton" is also known from survivors such as John McCain and Robinson Risner, who described this place in gory detail, or from the films "The Hanoi Hilton". The prison exhibits focus on the sufferings of Vietnamese revolutionaries who were imprisoned (and sometimes executed) here when the French were masters of Vietnam in the early 20th century.
    Translated by

    January 13, 2019

    Hiking

    The prison "Maison Central" was built in 1904 by the French when Vietnam was part of Indochina under French colonial rule. Most of his prisoners at the time were political agitators and Vietnamese resistance fighters.

    During the Vietnam War, the building served the North Vietnamese as a prison for American prisoners of war, notably American pilots. Following the Hilton Hotels was the ironic name of American prisoners of war for the institution "Hanoi Hilton".

    The Vietnamese called the prison "Hỏa Lò", which translates as "burning furnace".
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    Routes here

    Best routes to Hỏa Lò Prison (Maison Centrale)

    8

    hikers

    1. Turtle Tower, Hoàn Kiếm Lake – Hanoi Opera House loop from Long Biên

    8.62km

    02:12

    30m

    30m

    Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Moderate

    Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Moderate

    Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Moderate

    Details

    Informations

    Elevation -30 m

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    Sunday 15 February

    27°C

    19°C

    33 %

    Additional weather tips

    Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

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    Location: Vietnam

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