In 1940, the prison was expanded to 1,700m² and surrounded by solid stone and brick walls with 4m-high and 0.5m-think. Beds for prisoners were covered with cement and assembled foot shackles along to the length of floor. The prison was similar to a kiln in summer by Lao wind and cold in winter due to the severe weather in the borderland region. French Colonial turned the prison into a hell to detain, doom and abolish the fight will of communist soldiers. In period 1930 – 1945, the prison detained 1,007 revolutionaries and patriots, many of whom are excellent leaders of Viet Nam’s revolution such as Le Duan, Truong Chinh, Van Tien Dung, Xuan Thuy, Tran Huy Lieu, Nguyen Co Thach, Mai Chi Tho, Tran Quoc Hoan...

Before withdrawing from Son La in 1952, French Colonial bombed in the prison to erase their crime traces. In 1965, American Empire bombed in the North, so that Son La Prison was almost completely destroyed.

With the desire of training patriotic tradition for young generation, a part of Son La Prison was rebuilt. To Son La Prison Relic, visitors will have the opportunity to visit cells, special detention rooms and hundreds of artifacts which are live evidence on brutal crime of French Colonial such as handcuffs, iron chains, clamps… In addition, there is also peach tree planted in the cliff of the prison by To Hieu – Party Committee Secretary of the prison from May 1940 to October 1941. The peach tree has become a symbol of communists’ indomitable will.

Son La Prison Relic has been ranked as National Cultural – Historical Relic since 1962. The relic welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors to visit, research and study every year.

Thu Giang
Photo: Anh Dung