Historical sites in Côn Đảo

Historical Sites & Memorials

This collection documents the somber history of the Côn Đảo archipelago, which served as a brutal penal colony under French and South Vietnamese rule for over a century. The list features the infamous Tiger Cages and Cow Stables, where political prisoners were detained in harsh conditions. It also includes the Hàng Dương Cemetery, the final resting place of thousands of revolutionaries, and the grave of national heroine Võ Thị Sáu. These sites preserve the architectural remains of the prison system and serve as memorials to those who died during the conflict.

Historical Sites & Memorials — Map

A

Tigerkäfige

Infamous prison cells built in 1940 by the French. These units are known for their barred ceilings, which allowed guards to monitor and harass prisoners from a walkway above.

B

Hang Duong

The largest cemetery on Côn Sơn Island, containing the graves of over 20,000 prisoners and revolutionaries who died at the Côn Đảo prison complex.

C

Vo Thi Sau Grave

The burial site of a young Vietnamese revolutionary executed by the French in 1952. Located within Hàng Dương Cemetery, it is a significant site for local pilgrimage.

D

Cow stables

Originally built by the French in 1863 for cattle, these facilities were converted into detention cells for political prisoners in 1930 and later expanded in 1963.

E

War Victims Graveyard

A solemn memorial ground dedicated to the patriots and political prisoners who died during the island's history as a penal colony.

F

Tượng Đài Liệt Sỹ

A central monument honoring the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for national independence during the various periods of the island's prison history.

G

Prison Escape

A memorial commemorating historical attempts by political prisoners to escape the island's detention centers and return to the mainland.

Other Lists

Côn Đảo Essentials