A visiting site – Phu Son Prison

Gate of Phu Son prison

Banh II prison was built by French colonists  from 1908 to  1916. In the period of the US puppet, it was renamed Lao 2, Vi Nhan prison. Then they called it Camp 3. After the Paris Peace Accord in 1973, they called it Phu Son prison. This prison has an area of 13.228m2, consists of 13 large cells  and 14 small cells. Besides, there are assistant works such as medical rooms, cafeterias, kitchens, clubs, hairdresser’s parlor, supervisors’ office and garden ...

Banh II prison was built  with the massive and more permanent size. It has a walkway beside it for the guards go along to inspect the prisoners. A late night a prisoner struck a guard dead. Since then theother guards have not used this aisle anymore.

Urgent duties of  Banh I struggledagainst the regime of hard labour, killing  prisoners. Contrary to Banh I, pressing duty of  Banh II were uniting political trends, fighting for improved real life in the prison, implementing political prison regime, protect secret activities of movement cadres . The movement cardes organized to study culture, theories of revolution, educate and training cadres.Many key cadres of the Communist Party and our State were mature in this period such as: Mr. Nguyen Van Cu, Le Duan, Pham Van Dong, Hoang Quoc Vietnam, Le Thanh Nghi, Ha Huy Giap ...

Cells area isdesigned in a more sophisticated layout. It was hidden behind thick walls. If don not look carefully, you are difficult to detect it. Prisoners are prohibited here with scabies over their bodies, very pale skin due to lack of light, fresh air and nutrients. In addition the bad diet also made many people die with severe dysentery. French colonists called the cells area as “arboretum of communists ". Because many people from other parties have been given and jailed together with political prisoners to create conflict, but the cadres ofthe Viet Nam Communist Party converted them eventually they became communists. This prison had been detained Mr Le Hong Phong, Nguyen An Ninh patriot ... Under the harsh regime of the prison, Mr. Le Hong Phong drew his last breath in the cell 05 on 06thSeptember 1942 by the dysentery and the savage tortures of the enemy.

The period1951- 1953, Banh II is where detained prisoners from the North and Central regions. The plan for escaping of prisoners was made from this prison. This leaded to the armed struggle to escape from this island of 198 prisoners at Ben Dam on 12th December 1952.

In 1964 this prison was also where the struggle forces opened  the fight named "Fighting in fall" (June 1970). This was the fight against the hard labour and saluting the flag of the 4000 political prisoners over the island.

In the spring of 1935,  ComradesPham Van Dong, Nguyen Van Linh, Nguyen Kim Cuong and some other comrades held successfullytheplay named Napoleonin the field of  Banh II. French guards watched very crowded. The play is not only successful in the art side but also in diplomatic. Many French guards admired the prisoners who were cultured, lots of personality and sage. Since then they beat prisoners less than  normaland their form of address better.

Banh II was seen as a long history after Banh I. This place bore the stamp of many generations of political prisoners.

Phu Son prison relic wasexceptionally recognized as the Nation’s particularly  important  relic  by Ministry of Culture - Information with decision No.54-VHQD on 29th April 1979.It was also recognized as the nation’s special relic by the Prime Minister with decision No.548/QD-TTg on 10th May 2012.