Hoa Lo Prison sits at No. 1 Hoa Lo Street, a short walk south-west of Hoan Kiem Lake. The relic board's own history says the French colonial administration built it in 1896 and called it the Central Prison, which is why "Maison Centrale" is still lettered over the gate. Vietnamese people called it Hoa Lo after the village that stood on the land, a village known for making clay stoves.
The French used it to hold Vietnamese who opposed colonial rule. During the war with the United States it held captured American airmen, who nicknamed it the Hanoi Hilton. The official site still runs a section called "Memories of the Hanoi Hilton".
What you see today is the part of the prison that was kept as a relic: cell blocks, the gate, and displays of documents and objects. The official site lists an audio guide, tour guides, a souvenir counter and drinks among its visitor services.
Getting there
Measured in a straight line on map coordinates, the gate is about 0.6 km from Hanoi railway station and about 0.75 km from Hoan Kiem Lake, so most Old Quarter hotels are within walking distance. Noi Bai International Airport is about 22 km away in a straight line; the road is longer.
Transerco, Hanoi's state bus company, lists Hoa Lo Prison among the stops its hop-on hop-off City Tour passes. We could not read a current City Tour fare from the operator, so we do not quote one.
Hours and fees
| When | Hours |
|---|---|
| Every day, including festivals and public holidays | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard, Vietnamese and foreign visitors | VND 50,000 |
| Half price: people with severe disabilities, people aged 60 and over, students with a student card, people covered by social policy | VND 25,000 |
| Children under 16, people with special severe disabilities | Free |
The relic board set the VND 50,000 price from 1 January 2024, under a Hanoi People's Council resolution on sightseeing fees. Its notice calls this the daytime fee. VND 25,000 is our arithmetic: half of the standard price.
Nearby
- Imperial Citadel of Thang Long: about 1.1 km in a straight line.
- Temple of Literature: about 1.2 km in a straight line.
Questions travelers ask
Is Hoa Lo Prison worth it on a short Hanoi stay? A traveler with two days in Hanoi asked this on r/VietNam. Most replies said yes:
"It's a historical place and the audio guide is really helpful. It'll take roughly 2 hours to finish the entire thing."
u/Money_Sir5721 on r/VietNam
Not everyone agreed:
"Most of the prison was destroyed, so you only see a few rooms. Short but crowded."
u/The-Traveler- on r/VietNam
