Winter Vacation - Vietnam
Jan 2005, Hoa Lo Prison
Saigon - Hoi An - Hue - Hoa Lo Prison - Hanoi

 

One of the "must-see's" of a trip to Hanoi is the Hoa Lo prison, also known as the "Hanoi Hilton." I took so many photos that I had to put this on a separate page from the rest of the trip. I guess all war museums tell the story from the point of view of the victor. But this one is just so hard to believe. To assume that all the signs are telling the truth, you have to be willing to accept the two contrasting portrayls that this museum exhibits: that the prison was a horrible death camp when it was used by the French Colonists against the noble Vietnamese prisoners; and that it was a happy-time summer camp when the Vietcong imprisoned Americans in it. It's amazing.

I like rule #3 -- no frolicking allowed. I hope this photo isn't considered frolicksome.
 

The GuillotineOne of many dark hallways of cells

Here's a good example of the dual nature of the museum. Is it a "Hell of Hell" or a nice place where people were well treated?

Leg Fetters

These leg fetters were used to keep prisoners from moving for days at a time.

"Political prisoners" escaped the "death sentence yard" through this sewer tunnel so that they could "join the resistance base to continue the struggle."

Robot Glenxeten's Confession

The above "confession" was from an Air Force Captain Robot Glenxeten. That's an odd name, isn't it?

John McCain's Flight Suit and parachute That's John McCain's flight suit. He spent quite a bit of time imprisoned here. I wonder if his time was as nice as they describe it.

Here is the volleyball net that prisoners were provided to play during their free time. And billiard! Plus, each detainee got free shoes. Quite generous of them.

This is an actual brochure exhibited in the museum. I suppose that it was given to new inmates. Or perhaps, it was mailed to their relatives. It shows what a great time the prisoners had during their time in the POW camp. I put it together from a few photos I took of it, and retyped the text -- mistakes and all. I hope it's not too blurry.

This is how they were shot down before entering the camp. . .
That is the end of a flyer's life and the beginning of a new one
It may not be as comfortable as home but. . .

. . . nothing can help, because this is a detention camp.

Let them prepare to start a day as a camp inmate and. . .
. . . take a meal which will be much of a surprise for them.

There's plenty of fruit in this tropical land.It is as if one is being in California, somewhere on the West Coast.

The food is fairly good, but one can't be happy in absence of the beloved ones, and the roommates may share the same feelings.
The meal over, and the dishes washed, a little while with a guitar, singing a song of one's hometown would be good.
Or a pow- wow of room-mates talking about each other's state may be a useful past-time.

Some physical exercises, inside the room or on the ground of the camp, also can help.

Otherwise, there still are a lot of other decent entertainments.

Also, they can try to see certain moving pictures in order to understand more about the culture and art. . .
. . . of a nation that they had previously come to destroy with bombs. . . Or to read certain book without having any fear of being "brainwashed",
Get together to learn something else was another way to have more knowledge
However, the most joyful moment has always been that of receiving package and mail. . .
...then they can share good news from home.
After that, songs in praise of life will resound again, health and strength will be found again, especially one will feel more like building life instead of destroying it as it had been the case before.
And day in day out, they would find joy and interest in raising poultry, growing flowers. . .
...and in making friends with these pets.
Time flies. Here's another Christmas again. Would be hard to believe one's soul is being taken care of in this "communist" land. What the family is doing now over there, across the ocean? Wasn't it right to say: God is here too and probably only here?
Everything could be a relief for them, from material needs of the daily life to periodical check-up, as well as. . .
. . . first aid to any case of wound or illness.
Such is the life of captured U.S. pilots in the camps. All of them benefit the same advantage : the lenient and humane policy of the Government and people of the D.R.V.N. Yes, all of them. . .
from the one of the first aircraft shot down. . .
...until the one of the most recent aircraft shot down, the 3,700th.

Saigon - Hoi An - Hue - Hoa Lo Prison - Hanoi