French culture and Maison Centrale

French culture and Maison Centrale

Established in the late 19th century by the French Colonial administration, the building's faded yellow façade and opal green shutters mask the horrors of imprisonment that occurred behind the walls. View the small cells, 6 feet by 6 feet (1.8 meters by 1.8 meters), and see the bed frames and straw mats where prisoners slept. Window shutters were kept closed and the prison was usually overcrowded. A prison guard, say “it is easy to die but hard "

Itinerary

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam.

In the morning, we will meet at your hotel/hostel for breakfast. Then we will take you for a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, you can enjoy the flavours of egg coffee and ice green tea on the sidewalk.

We then will take you through an old street to see the day-to-day lives of small traders in the Old Quarter. We then explore ancient the French culture district which survived living in Hanoi for over a century. You can see the authentic relics of the old houses where French colonialists lived for decades.

After we will visit Hoa Lo prison. The Hoa Lo Prison Museum, also known as Maison Centrale, played a significant role in the French colonial expansion of Vietnam. Many of Vietnam’s political prisoners were tortured and killed here. Afterward, during the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese used it to imprison American soldiers.

Once we’re hungry, we will go to have lunch in Tran Hung Dao street, at a beautiful traditional Hanoi restaurant.

Stop At:

• Hoa Lo Prison, 1 Hoa Lo St Hoan Kiem, Hanoi 10000 Vietnam
• Chua Ly Trieu Quoc Su, 50 Ly Quoc Su, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi Vietnam
• Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake), Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
• Hanoi Opera House, 01 Trang Tien, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
• Hang Gai Street (Street of Hemp), Hanoi 100000 Vietnam