Hoa Lo Prison ("Hanoi Hilton"): opening hours, ticket and history (2026)
Hoa Lo Prison is the former Maison Centrale built by the French in the late 19th century to hold Vietnamese opponents; it later held American pilots during the Vietnam War, hence its ironic nickname "Hanoi Hilton". Only part of it remains, now a museum. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours. The adult ticket is 50,000 VND, and most guides say it is open daily from 8:00 to 17:00. The prison is southwest of Hoan Kiem Lake, within walking distance of the Old Quarter, and pairs well with the Temple of Literature in one day in Hanoi.
Highlights
The "Maison Centrale" facade
The original porch and yellow wall face Hoa Lo street. The French name is still written above the door, a reminder of the colonial period.
The Vietnamese prisoners' cells
Shackled mannequins, dungeons, chains and reconstructed conditions tell the story of colonial-era repression. The prison, designed for about 450 inmates, held many more at times according to the museum. The tone is harsh: some visitors, children in particular, may be affected.
The guillotine and the escape
A guillotine used by the French administration is on display, along with the sewer through which prisoners are said to have escaped in 1945. These rooms are the most visited.
The American pilots
One part of the route covers the time when downed American airmen were held here, including the future senator John McCain. The account is the Vietnamese museum's, and its viewpoint differs from American memoirs; read the panels as testimony.
Practical info
Tips
- The adult ticket is 50,000 VND, with discounts for students and seniors and free entry for children under 16 according to one travel guide; no official source could be confirmed in October 2026. An audio guide is offered for about 50,000 VND according to one source. One site reports a lunchtime break: check at reception. Panels are in Vietnamese and English. Guided visits and Vietnam War themed tours go further into the context.
How to get there
1 Hoa Lo street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. On foot, 15 to 20 minutes from the central post office, south of Hoan Kiem Lake; by Grab, 5 minutes from the Old Quarter.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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