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If you set foot on Pearl Island, don't forget to visit the historical Phu Quoc prison, a place that witnessed many tragedies and heartbreaking events in the history of the Vietnamese people. In the article below, Salinda Resort will answer all questions about this relics, such as: Where is Phu Quoc Prison? How much is the Phu Quoc Prison entrance fee? Historical events and visitation notes here

Come find out with us!

Introduction to Phu Quoc Prison

Phu Quoc Prison, formerly known as Cay Dua Prison, was a detention center for more than 40,000 political prisoners during the Indochina War. Visiting here offers insight into the patriotism, resilience, and suffering endured by soldiers who were detained and tortured.

Over a span of 6 years, from 1967 to 1973, over 4,000 prisoners perished due to torture, with tens of thousands more injured or permanently disabled.

Phu Quoc prison
Phu Quoc prison

In 1995, the prison was designated as a national historical site and opened to the public to educate and commemorate the events and heroes associated with it.  

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Where is Phu Quoc Prison? Ticket prices and opening hours

Address: Located 28km from the center of Duong Dong Town, the prison is located at 350 Nguyen Van Cu Street, An Thoi Commune, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang.

Opening hours: from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

Visit Phu Quoc Prison to review Vietnam's heroic history
Visit Phu Quoc Prison to review Vietnam's heroic history

Currently, admission to the site is free. However, for a more immersive experience and deeper understanding of the history, hiring a tour guide is recommended, typically costing between 100,000 and 200,000 VND per session. Traveling in groups can help reduce individual costs.

How to Get to Phu Quoc Prison

Accessing Phu Quoc Prison is convenient. Renting a motorbike or car and using a map to navigate is a popular option, allowing flexibility and opportunities to admire the scenery along the way. Alternatively, using ride-hailing services like Grab or taxis offers a safe and less strenuous travel option.

Road from Salinda Resort to Phu Quoc Prison
Road from Salinda Resort to Phu Quoc Prison

The ideal time to travel to Phu Quoc prison

Each season in Phu Quoc offers its own allure. The dry season, characterized by cool and dry weather, is ideal for outdoor exploration, though it tends to be crowded. Conversely, the rainy season sees fewer tourists and lower prices, but sudden rain showers are common. If you come to the monument during the rainy season, you need to wear dark clothes, sandals (to limit stains that give you a headache), and an umbrella.

Phu Quoc prison ruins on a beautiful sunny day
Phu Quoc prison ruins on a beautiful sunny day

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What is there to explore in Phu Quoc prison?

So what will we discover when we come to Phu Quoc prison? Let's learn more specifically about this relic at Salinda Resort.

Witnessed brutal forms of torture

Upon entering the ruins, you will be impressed by the massive barbed wire fences and pristine prison camps. Phu Quoc Prison has a total of 12 areas, divided into regular cells and solitary confinement areas.

The solitary confinement areas have an area of about 30 square meters, but during peak season, they can accommodate up to 180 people. POWs have to take turns sitting and lying down in this cramped space. Besides, the models reconstructing scenes of imprisonment and brutal torture here may make you unable to hold back your tears. Models that recreate torture can include models of nailing people, models of tiger cages, models of tapping barrels, models of chiseling, breaking teeth,...

The tiger cage reconstruction model is made from barbed wire
The tiger cage reconstruction model is made from barbed wire
Model of burying prisoners alive in the hot sun
Model of burying prisoners alive in the hot sun
The prisoner was sandwiched between two wooden boards that the soldiers beat down with hammers, causing pain
The prisoner was sandwiched between two wooden boards that the soldiers beat down with hammers, causing pain

Visit the Phu Quoc prison memorial

After witnessing and hearing about the painful history, don't forget to visit the memorial to light incense for the more than 500 soldiers who died by brutal torture here.

The memorial was built in 2013, designed with a symbol of a wave over 5 meters high on one side, and in the middle is a pointed block with a hollowed-out human figure with the meaning "people who passed away from this place."

Phu Quoc Prison Memorial
Phu Quoc Prison Memorial

Division B2 vividly recreates the former Phu Quoc prison

Division B2 of Phu Quoc Prison, also known as the solitary confinement area, is a reconstructed area of more than 17,000 square meters to most realistically recreate the lives of political prisoners during the Vietnam War.

Restored items such as the prison gate, guard tower, fence, kitchen, cafeteria,... Here, you will discover items from the war period and better understand the lives of prisoners of war.

Reconstruction model in area B2
Reconstruction model in area B2

The relic site is large and still retains ancient items

Phu Quoc Prison consists of 12 zones; each zone is 100m apart. Each zone has 11 houses with 9 cells, tiger cages, and 4 zones with solitary confinement houses.

The buildings here are mostly solidly built with tin and cement and many interlaced barbed wires, completely separate from the outside.

Visitors should observe the following guidelines when visiting Phu Quoc Prison:

  • Gate of the 8th Military Police Battalion: The original gate of the 8th Military Police Battalion was restored, recreating the entrance to the old prison.
  • Prisoner of war cemetery: Prisoner of war cemetery is the final resting place of more than 3,000 revolutionary soldiers who died at Phu Quoc prison.
  • Kien Van Church: Kien Van Church is also known as the Prisoner of War Church. Currently, this place has been severely damaged, leaving only ruins with a few pieces of walls, foundations, and corner columns.
  • Additional Relics Gallery: The gallery currently displays more than 43 artifacts and more than 100 documentary photos about forms of torture, the formation and existence of detention camps, etc.
  • Division B2: Restore the original state of the detention area, torture prisoners, and recreate the harsh life here.
  • Sim Hill Martyrs Memorial: The memorial is a place to commemorate the soldiers who died during the construction of the prison.
  • Gate of Battalion 7 Military Police: The Gate of Battalion 7 is the main entrance and exit point of prison camp B1, where high-ranking political prisoners of Vietnam are detained.
  • The gate and house of the Prison Command Board: The gate and house of the Prison Command Board represent the harsh and brutal management system of the Republic of Vietnam government towards political prisoners during the war in Vietnam.
Historical evidence is displayed in the additional monument gallery
Historical evidence is displayed in the additional monument gallery

Some notes when traveling to Phu Quoc prison

Phu Quoc Prison is not only a tourist destination but also a historical relic of our nation, so when coming here, you need to note a few points:

  • Dress modestly out of respect for the historical significance of the site.
  • Do not touch the products on display or artifacts on the relic site.
  • Note the opening and closing times so you don't miss the opportunity to visit the monument.
  • The time to visit the monument can last 1–2 hours, so you can bring food and light drinks to recharge your energy for the tour.
  • Dispose of trash responsibly.

Dishes you should try when visiting Phu Quoc prison

After visiting Phu Quoc prison relics, visitors can enjoy local specialties to recharge for the next journey. Below are suggestions for 3 delicious dishes you should try:

Phu Quoc Bun Quay

Bun Quay is one of the most famous specialties of Phu Quoc. This dish is made from simple ingredients such as fresh vermicelli, fish cakes, shrimp, squid, crab (optional), raw vegetables, and broth, but has an extremely unique and attractive flavor. diners from the first time they enjoyed it.

Specialty Bun Quay, Phu Quoc: Eat one and want to eat two
Specialty Bun Quay, Phu Quoc: Eat one and want to eat two

Goi ca trich

Phu Quoc herring salad is a famous specialty dish of this pearl island, attracting many tourists to visit. With the main ingredient being fresh herring from Phu Quoc waters, combined with purple onions, roasted peanuts, and grated coconut, the salad has a unique and delicate flavor.

In particular, this dish is not only delicious but also very good for health, helping to strengthen immunity, protect the heart, and prevent aging.

Phu Quoc herring salad
Phu Quoc herring salad

Squid noodle soup

Phu Quoc squid noodle soup is a popular breakfast dish on Pearl Island. This dish is especially attractive because of the harmonious combination of chewy noodles, crispy sweet squid, rich broth, and vegetables.

Squid noodle soup
Squid noodle soup

An attractive tourist destination near Phu Quoc prison

Nearby attractions include Star Beach, Quoc Ho Pagoda, Phu Quoc Pepper Garden, and Suoi Tranh, offering opportunities for further exploration and enjoyment:

  • Star Beach: 5km from the relic site, known as one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam, you can participate in many activities here such as swimming, and taking photos with the stars,...
  • Quoc Ho Pagoda: A spiritual tourist destination in Phu Quoc, the pagoda is about 10 kilometers from the prison ruins, 20 minutes by car.
  • Phu Quoc Pepper Garden is a famous destination with lush green scenery of straight green pepper trees. It is about 40 minutes by car from the prison.
  • Suoi Tranh: about 20 minutes by car from the prison, this is an ideal destination for those who want to immerse themselves in pristine nature.

In addition to the above locations, you can move to An Thoi port to go to islands such as Hon Thom, and Hon Dua,... or move to entertainment areas such as Vinwonders, Vinpearl Safari,...

Hopefully, the above article has provided you with a lot of useful information for your trip as well as knowing where Phu Quoc Prison is. If you are looking for a place to stay during your upcoming trip to Pearl Island, you can refer to the services at Salinda Resort via the website: https://salindaresort.com/

Salinda wishes you a perfect vacation in Phu Quoc, Vietnam.

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