Hoa Lo Prison has a diverse and complex historical past, from the French colonial period to the Vietnam War. Here is an overview of its historical past:

1.French colonial period (1886 – 1945):

Hoa Lo Prison was built in the 1880s during the French colonial period, as part of the re-education prison system in Indochina (formerly known as Vietnam).
Initially, it was used to detain political prisoners and opponents of the French government.

Hoa Lo Prison in 18th century & now

2. Vietnam War of Independence period (1866-1945):

During the War of Independence, Hoa Lo Prison continued to be used to hold political prisoners, including Vietnamese independence leaders such as Ho Chi Minh.
These prisons became centers of political dissent and Vietnam’s struggle for independence.

3. Vietnam War period (1945-1954)

During this period, the North Vietnamese government used Hoa Lo Prison to detain and torture prisoners of war, including American pilots who were captured after their plane crashed.
The prisoners here suffered harsh living conditions and periods of torture aimed at weakening their morale and fighting spirit.

4. After the war (1975-present):

After the end of the war and the unification of Vietnam, Hoa Lo Prison was preserved as a symbol of the independence and resistance of the Vietnamese people.
It has been converted into a museum and historical site, displaying artifacts and documents related to its past history, and it is an important destination for tourists and those wishing to learn about the history of Vietnam.