Di Tich Hoa Lo aka Hanoi Hilton (make sure to Click read more at the bottom)

For this post, I visit Hoa Lo, known in the US as Hanoi Hilton.  It cost 10000 VN (~55 cents) and I thought it was well worth it.  Built in 1896 by the French to house Vietnamese political prisoners and later on used by the Vietnamese for American soldiers, most of the prison has been demolished to make room for the Hanoi Towers, two large high risers (go figure).

However, a small portion was left over and turned into a museum.  Here is the intro sign (click to enlarge):

As you can imagine, it is not a happy place - this may have been augmented as it was raining the day I came.  There were also speakers throughout the prison playing dark, low, ominous music.

The original gate to the prison.

I will admit that these figurines scared the crap out of me.  Again, very dark and that MUSIC!

A European lady was sitting here - I don't think she knew it was a toilet.

Their legs were shackled

So yeah...this was a really scary area, around the corner is a room with a figurine in it.  A couple and I walked around the corner, she (of the couple) saw it and screamed, I screamed, and we all ran out.  Whatever, you weren't there.  Did you read the sign above?

The cells for females.

Yup, this is legit.  Pics of heads to the left.

Another scary hallway of jail cells.

A memorial 

Notice the 3rd paragraph: During the war, the national economy was difficult but Vietnamese government had created the best living conditions to US Pilots.  Remember, museums are ALWAYS historically accurate.  Besides, why would they lie...

Look, they got to play pool, garden, watch movies, and play games.  No way these photos were staged.

John McCain's suit

A shrine to the Vietnamese who have died in the struggle for freedom.

"American Pilots receive souvenirs before their release"  Yay? 

A play area for kids overlooking the prison.

Hanoi Towers plus a prison wall with shards of glass.

As you can see, I took a bunch of pictures compared to the temples (which probably tells a lot about me).  Honestly, the Hanoi Towers have got to be haunted, right?

tony