So i decided to go full tourist today and have a look at something that i am personally interested in and I visited the Hanoi Hilton, which is actually called the Hỏa Lò Prison.
The place has a rather extensive history as it was used by the French to confine Vietnamese prisoners and it was also used to house American prisoners during the war, the most famous of which might be considered to be John McCain.
Let me go ahead and say this up front: The staff at this place were absolutely delightful - i mean, just really top drawer. They weren't trying to sell me anything, they were just nice and I gotta say, we need an awful lot more of this sort of attitude in the world.
Most of the prison has been already torn down and the property has been turned into financial buildings. That which remains is extremely well-maintained and is more than worth the $1.50 it costs to get in.
It portrays the story of this prison, which was initially used to hold Vietnamese captives when the French controlled the country and later to hold Americans when the Vietnamese had regained control.
In my mind, maybe because I am a softy, it is tragic when anyone is held captive. The methods used inside this prison for me anyway, would seem particularly brutal though. Perhaps this is because i am claustrophobic; a term that likely didn't exist when things like this were made.
I'm quite certain that no one is telling the correct tale when referring to this prison, but keeping someone's leg constantly attached to a point would drive me to the point of madness.
There are other parts of the prison that are for those that didn't behave such as solitary confinement areas where the same shackles existed but (so it said in the signs that I didn't take a picture of) were just for this one person who was also kept in complete darkness 24-hours a day - i presume to break their spirit.
Throughout the prison there are lots of stories of glory and vilifying of the enemy at hand etc but to be honest with you I have ZERO interest in getting involved in any of this. When i was there i was just overcome with a sense of sadness and dread.
There were several hundred other people in the place as I was there and I was very happy that all the people in attendance were respectful and quiet. This was a harrowing place afterall and there were tons of relics and pieces of artwork to be seen.
Overall i would say that this place is well worth the (less than $2) price of admission and should be visited by anyone - especially those that have an interest in war history, which i think is important lest we repeat it.