Wartime Prison recognized as National Heritage

The Ba Ria-Vung Tau provincial People’s Committee on March 23 received a government certificate recognizing Con Dao Prison as special National Heritage site.
At the certificate presentation ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan noted that the recognition shows the Party, Government and people’s gratitude to the 20,000 martyrs and heroes who died in the prison supporting the glorious cause of national independence and freedom.

It helps promote the Vietnamese people’s age-old tradition of “Tracing the roots”, and raise awareness of national pride and responsibility of young Vietnamese people.

It was reported that a Vietnamese soldier died in every two days during the course of its 113 year-old history. From 1930 to 1975 on average a Vietnamese soldier died every day in this prison known as a “hell on earth”.

Many Vietnamese patriots turned the prison into a revolutionary school of Ngo Gia Tu, Nguyen Van Cu, Le Hong Phong, Ton Duc Thang, Le Duan, Pham Van Dong, Pham Hung and Nguyen Van Linh, who later became prominent leaders of Vietnam.

Now, thirty-eight years after national liberation, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province has developed significantly and is promoting Con Dao as a special historical district of the country.

Con Dao district has experienced 15 percent annual economic growth since 2009 and today its residents boast an average annual income of US$2,500.

The district aims to  become a modern regional and international tourism and economic area, as well as a national historic preservation site, a protected forest and marine biodiversity area, and an important national security and defense outpost.