INTRODUCTION

Joining the movement of national liberation, each revolutionary soldier was always ready with one spirit:
Revolutionary is my life, since I understood
Once we joined, it is incarcerating
It is a sword near the neck, a gun at the ear
As a living body only considered half
Refusing to die in shackles, the communist prisoners organized fights to preserve their forces, maintained their temper and waited for the chance to escape. Knowing that it was possible to die, but their brave hearts were still determined to escape from prison, to join the “waterfall” of revolution, to regain independence and freedom for the nation.

"The desire of freedom" - a burning desire of the Vietnamese people. These are stories from the escapees of revolutionary soldiers in the colonial, imperial prisons.

THE SHACKLES

On the route of national liberation, Vietnamese people had experienced so much pain and loss. The harsh policies with continuous suppression tools: Courts, Detective Departments, Prisons and the bureaucracy were established in many locals by the colonial and imperial governments made the harsh life of Vietnamese people. View pano

Harsh life of Vietnamese people at the early XX century under the rule of the French colonialists
Harsh life of Vietnamese people at the early XX century under the rule of the French colonialists
The famine of 1945 occurred from late 1944 to May 1945 in Northern Vietnam (taken by Vo An Ninh)
The famine of 1945 occurred from late 1944 to May 1945 in Northern Vietnam (taken by Vo An Ninh)

Famine was more dangerous than the war. For example, in 6 years of war, only 1 million people died in France, and 3 million people died in Germance. Yet, half a year of famine in the Northern Vietnam, more than 2 million people died. Excerpts: The article “Exhorting people against famine” (President Ho Chi Minh), Saving nation Newspaper, No 86, November 8th 1945

The sabotages and arrests the innocent people from US soldiers and the Republic of Vietnam army in Southern Vietnam
The sabotages and arrests the innocent people from US soldiers and the Republic of Vietnam army in Southern Vietnam
A trio of security and repressive tools of the French colonial government - Hanoi Court
A trio of security and repressive tools of the French colonial government - Saigon Court

Prison system built by the colonial and imperial government in Vietnam: View pano

WINGS IN THE NIGHT

Escape is the highest form of fights, a prisoner may die in a sacred forest or poisonous water; bait for wild animals or submerged in the middle of the ocean. Without letting go, the revolutionary soldiers were determined to organize daring escapes. The "wings longing for freedom" broke the shackles, flought their wings, came back to the light of the revolution. View pano

ESCAPE FROM THE HARSH PRISON

Hoa Lo - one of the most solid colonial prisons in Indochina. The seemingly inviolable place was where "miraculous" escapes in 1932, 1945, 1951 happened. The escapes showed the bravery and the extraordinary intelligence of the communist soldiers in the "Hell on the earth in Hanoi”. View pano


The escape in 1951

At the end of 1951, the Party Cell in the death row decided to organize a collective escape. According to the plan, prisoners used a rag soaked in lard to burn the wood at the shack to ease the foot out. Taking advantage of the time when Busan prison guard played ping-pong, prisoners took the sample of the cell key and 10 days to finish making the fake key. During that time, Hanoi Party Committee sent maps of the underground sewers, saw blades, acids, etc in and out through supply way. Thus, they meticulously cut underground iron bars for half a month. View pano

At 19:00 on December 24th, 1951, 16 death row political prisoners were divided into 3 groups, crawling into the sewer. In the cold winter night, when crawling in the deep, narrow, dark, the prisoners still tried to cling to each other, hold each other to the mouth of the drain and turn to Quan Su street. Just got to the manhole cover, the police came. The prisoners fiercely fought back but only 5 people escaped, 11 people were arrested.

To carry out the escape plan, our fellow prisoners had requested to increase their playing time and be allowed to play table tennis. This request was approved by the prison. Every day, we arranged two comrades Ky and Lien to play ping-pong with the guards. Taking the advantage, two comrades Hau and Chinh dropped the prison number plate hanging outside the cell door, creating an excuse to borrow a bunch of keys to close the number plate, and then, sampled the key for the cell door and key for the underground manhole cover. Memoirs “Escape from Hoa Lo Prison Hanoi, night of December 24th, 1951”, Dang Dinh Ky, Vu Duc Chinh, Tran Minh Viet, Pham Dinh Lien and Vu Dinh Quang

Some death sentenced prisoners escaped on the night of December 24th, 1951:

The death row, Hoa Lo Prison where 16 death sentenced prisoners escaped on the night of December 24th, 1951
Comrade Ngo Hung Hau
Comrade Dang Dinh Ky
Comrade Tran Minh Viet
Comrade Pham Dinh Lien
Comrade Vu Duc Chinh

The Leading Committee discussed and assigned specifically: cutting iron bars in the cells by Mister Minh Viet and Nguyen Van Hung; assigned to comrade Vu Duc Chinh, who is a cold-iron worker cut underground sewers… When the cutting was completed, the marks were disguised with safety pins so when the guards checked the bars, he could not detect it. In order to drown out the sounds when cutting, a number of assigned comrades brought the buttered tubes and bulging bricks to the cement floor to make a loud noise. Memoirs “Escape from Hoa Lo Prison Hanoi, night of December 24th, 1951”, Dang Dinh Ky, Vu Duc Chinh, Tran Minh Viet, Pham Dinh Lien and Vu Dinh Quang

Ms. Bang Tam - assigned with supplying saw blades, acids, maps to political prisoners Hoa Lo Prison via supply lines for the escape on the night of December 24th, 1951
Prisoners go into the underground sewers, saw bars, prepare to escape (model)
Underground sewer in the courtyard of the death row, where 16 death sentenced prisoners escaped, night of December 24th, 1951

OUT OF THE FOREST

Within 15 year-jailing revolutional prisoners (1930 - 1945), in Son La Prison, there occurred two escapes in 1941 and 1943. Because of the location of the prison building in sacred rain forest, regime security guards should be likened to "a coffin with its lid opened, waiting for prisoners to bury themselves." French colonialists also offered prizes to the locals, whoever took the head of an escaped communist prisoner will be rewarded with 20 silver coins and 5 quintals of salt. Son La Chief Saint Poulot often threatened the communist prisoners: "Don't try to escape, because the aborigines will bring your heads in return for salt!". View pano


2. The escape in 1943

The escape by comrades: Nguyen Luong Bang, Tran Dang Ninh, Luu Duc Hieu and Nguyen Van Tran was a meticulous and thoughtful preparation for two years by Son La Prison: from preparing maps, personal tax cards, food, and exercising like walking. In particular, the Party Cell successfully enlightened the Thai ethnic - Lo Van Gia to lead the way. View pano

In order for the guards not to detect, the Party Cell used blankets and mats to fake four sick people, so the body count was still enough. Escaping from the prison, the comrades quickly disguised themselves with Thai clothes taken from the tomb, crossing the stream and the forest. When returning to Son La, Lo Van Gia was captured by the French colonists, brutally tortured and then stealthily burried away.

Four political prisoners Son La Prison who successfully escaped, August 3rd,1943:

Comrade Nguyen Luong Bang
Comrade Tran Dang Ninh
Comrade Luu Duc Hieu
Comrade Nguyen Van Tran

No matter how, whenever we organize escape, I have to participate. All the dangers and difficulties you guys bear, I can bear. Even if I have to sacrifice halfway, I will still join. Comrade Nguyen Luong Bang

Mister Lo Van Gia, a Thai ethnic man, had successfully led four comrades Nguyen Luong Bang, Tran Dang Ninh, Luu Duc Hieu and Nguyen Van Tran to escape Son La Prison, August 3rd, 1943
Relief describing the scene in which the four political prisoners who escaped Son La Prison were bidding farewell to Mister Lo Van Gia

STORM IN THE SEA

Escape on the land was already hard, escaping from the middle of the sea was even more difficult. In order to escape, the means of crossing the sea must be carefully prepared. From the rudimentary items, prisoners have to form boats, rafts, used clothes as sail. When crossing the sea, encountering large waves, there were lucky soldiers returning, but there were also many people sacrificed in the middle of the sea. This fight for our fatherland is difficult
I am not allowed to stand by and look
Just a drop in the sea,
It still can contribute to make the sea salty
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1. Unfulfilled dreams

Waves of Con Dao had buried many souls which were full of enthusiasm. In 1932, comrade Luong Van Tuy with some other comrades escaped with a raft made by bamboo drums. With rough mean of transport, facing storms, the raft was broken, they sacrificed, Luong Van Tuy was only 18 years old. In 1933, comrades Nguyen Hoi, Tong Phuc Chieu... organized the escape from Tau Be wharf. Only a hundred meters away, the boat was sunk by big waves, all sacrificed. At the end of 1934, comrades: Ngo Gia Tu, Le Quang Sung, To Chan… organized another escape from Co Ong yards. The trip was carefully prepared, but unfortunately, facing the stormy sea, all comrades were forever lying in the deep sea. View pano

Comrade Luong Van Tuy, escaped and sacrified in the sea, 1932
The rough mean of transport used by the prisoners in Con Dao
Comrade Nguyen Hoi, escaped and sacrified in the sea, 1933
Lo Voi Department, Con Dao Prison, where comrade Nguyen Hoi and other fellow prisoners secretly built boats and prepared to escape from the prison in 1933
Tau Be cape, the place where comrades Nguyen Hoi, Tong Phuc Chieu and his teammates started the escape, in 1933
Con Dao prisoners escaped from prison
Comrade Ngo Gia Tu, escaped and sacrified in the sea at the end of 1934
Co Ong field, Con Dao, where comrade Ngo Gia Tu and other comrades tried to escape at the end of 1934
Comrade To Chan (who attempted to assassinate Pasquier, Indochina General Governor), arrested in 1930, received death sentence, then reduced to life-sentence and exiled to Con Dao Prison; late 1934, he escaped with comrade Ngo Gia Tu and sacrified in the sea

2. The escape in 1952

The escape from Dam quay had the contribution of thousands of prisoners during over half a year. During the day, the prisoners worked hard; at night, they all gathered to prepare for means of escape: digging tunnels, moving soil out, taking wooden boats, removing clothes and stitching them into big cloths and then paint the boats, making sail. In the middle of December 12th, 1952, 198 prisoners in the Tiger Cages area quickly used 5 boats to cross the sea. Due to rough means of transport, being pursued by the enemy, to avoid the boats from sinking, a lot of people wanted to jump into the sea, giving life to their teammates. The escape failed: 81 people sacrified, 117 were arrested. View pano

After the tunnel was completed, two boats were taken to the tunnel. This is a crucial stage for the whole plan of escape. On that night, my fellow prisoners precisely assigned each group to take out each support under the boats. The department used mound-like rattan wire in the design of a trough and slowly moved it down to the cellar. When finished, it was covered with wood, covered with grass, sand and gravel. Memoirs “We escaped from prison”, To Luong - political prison participated in the escape of Dam quay in 1952

Dam quay, where prisoners worked days and nights to secretly dig a tunnel and build boats to escape, December 12th, 1952
Ca Map cape, Con Dao, hiding place for the escaping means
The stele for 81 soldiers who sacrified while participating in the escape in Dam quay, Con Dao, December 12th, 1952
Comrade Doan Duy Thanh, former island Commissioner Con Dao, Head of the Con Dao Political Prison Liaison Committee in Hanoi

The escape was unsuccessful, 81 soldiers sacrificed in the sea (75 were washed ashore, 6 were lost in the middle of the sea) were silently buried in Con Dao beaches at the Co Ong sandbank and set up temples… Currently, there are still 73 remains in Co Ong, Con Dao. It is the disadvantage of martyrs and their relatives because these families cannot return the bodies to their homeland for many different reasons. Memoirs “Con Dao heroic, the rising waves of East sea”, Doan Duy Thanh View pano

THE EPIC SONG IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA

Phu Quoc Prison Camp was divided into 12 separate sections, most of the prisoners were soldiers of the armed forces. With patriotic hearts and full of experience, they were always seeking ways to escape from prison to continue to fight. Some escapes were led by the Party Committee, some were led by a group of loyal comrades, all were to find a way to return to serve the country. Although there were people who sacrificed, there were failures, but nothing quelled the will and the desire for freedom. They all became lessons for the other escapes, which were told by "historical witnesses" who were captured in Phu Quoc Prison Camp. View pano


The escape in 1969

In August 1968, with the approval of the Party committee, we organized escape via the tunnels. At first there were 6 people, later up to 15 people, 3 people per shift: the first people dug, the second moved the soil into the pocket made of pants legs, the third used a string to pull out. Every 15 - 20m, we created a large area as a place to transfer soil and make room for people to pull. The tunnel was 120m long, bringing about 20m3 of soil. These soils could be dissolved in the rain. View pano

After nearly 5 months of digging, until 19:00 on January 19th, 1969, we decided to escape, 6 people were sent to dig to create a path from the tunnel to the ground. Around 4:30 the next morning, 21 people escaped successfully. This was the first successful escape via the tunnel in Phu Quoc Prison Camp. Words of comrade Nguyen Ha Long, June 7th, 2019

Comrade Nguyen Ha Long (wounded soldier level 2/4), who initiated the movement to escape from the tunnel in the A2 ward, Phu Quoc Prison Camp on the night of January 19th, 1969
Prisoners entering the escape tunnel (model)
Escaping tools used by revolutionary soldiers at section B2, Phu Quoc Prison Camp
Comrade Nguyen Trong Du, former prisoner of Phu Quoc Prison Camp, Deputy Director of the Museum of the Revolutionary Soldiers Imprisoned by the Enemy, was the "expert" in making shovels and hatches

In Phu Quoc Prison Camp, I was assigned to be a Secretary of a three-person group in a trio-style manner operating under the leadership of the Party Cell. Having mechanical experience, I was tasked with making shovels dig deep into the earth to escape from prison. From sprouts, drinking water, I make tiny shovels. From barbed wire, I brought straighten, knit into the hatch cover. At night, the brothers dug down to dig, tunnels like arms reaching out to the free light. Words of comrade Nguyen Trong Du, June 5th, 2019

ESCAPING FROM THE PRISON

The local prisons such as Bac Ninh, Cho Chu (Thai Nguyen), Buon Ma Thuot Prison, Da Lat Children's Prison... were also solidly built by the colonial government and imperialism guarding system, supervisor teams, professional reconnaissance. But nothing could stop the “brave hearts” always yearning for freedom, the revolution and Vietnamese people. View pano


Escape from Buon Ma Thuot Prison in 1941

Buon Ma Thuot Prison is located on a plateau, identical mountain forests with the high wall system, full of sharp pieces from broken glass bottles. In order to escape, the prisoners had to pass the only road through Khanh Duong garrison, where the French soldiers were strictly guarding day and night. French colonialists also bribed the villagers to capture the prisoners who tried to escape from camps in exchange for salt. Therefore, there were very few successful escapes. However, at the end of 1941, with their ability to take the opportunity, comrades Nguyen Chi Thanh, Le Tat Dac, Phan Van Dua took the opportunity to enter the forest, organized a successful escape from prison. View pano

Buon Ma Thuot Prison
Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh (Nguyen Vinh)
Comrade Le Tat Dac

In Buon Ma Thuot, besides Nguyen Vinh, there were Le Tat Dac and Phan Van Dua. The three people discussed and agreed on the plan for the escape. Each person prepares a little salt, a few matchboxes and a few medicines in case of illness on the road. On that day, when Do-riu (the soldier who escorted the prisoners into the forest to collect wood) asked for a "massage", 3 comrades crushed and tied him up. Then the three comrades crossed Tay Nguyen mountains, followed the sun, found their way to escape. Excerpts: Memories of the exile of Buon Ma Thuot Prison, Propaganda Department of Dak Lak Provincial Party Committee, 2000, p.145


Escape in Da Lat Children’s Prison, May 1973

In 1971, the republic government of Vietnam built a unique prison in the world - Dalat Children's Prison (Dalat Children's Training Center), where 600 prisoners were imprisoned (from 12 to 17 years old), so the children cannot learn the guidance from their previous generations. But, the harsh imprisonment regime did not overpower the fighting spirit of the young revolutionary soldiers. On May 7th, 1973, thirteen brave little boys broke the ceiling, removed the ties, climbed onto the roof, tore the clothes, tied them in a rope and tied them on their legs and arms to insulate them, passing through the dense barbed wire with high voltage lines. The thirteen escapes ended at the beginning of the morning. View pano

Uniform in Dalat Children’s Prison
Former prisoner Dang Ngoc Chung (first on the left) and other comrades who protected the children prisoners escaped from Dalat Children's Prison, 2012

At that time, when I saw the dirty little boys poking out of the door, I knew that they were the prisoners escape from prison. After taking clothes from the house for the kids to wear, I cooked very large rice portions, but they ate all. At 3 o'clock in the morning, when I got up to cook rice again, the children also ate them all. Words of Mrs. Phan Thi Tich (Nam Tich), revolutionary base sheltering the children prisoners who escape on May 7th, 1973 View pano

THE ENDLESS TRIUMPHANT SONG

The resounding victories of the Vietnamese nation in the twentieth century have been credited to many generations of political prisoners who have been imprisoned in "hell on the earth". With immortal faith, the brave people after escaping from prison, continued to devote their strength and intelligence to the fights for independence and to the cause of construction and development of the country. View pano

1. The timeless marks


Comrade Nguyen Luong Bang

I am pleased to request that you trusted the citizen Nguyen Luong Bang, whom I have appointed as the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics… I believe that sending the Vietnamese ambassador to the Soviet Union will strengthen the friendship between our two nations. Quoted: Letter of President Ho Chi Minh to Mr. N.M. Sveronich, President of the Supreme Soviet Presidium of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union), March 10th, 1952 View pano

Comrade Nguyen Luong Bang (third from the right) with other comrades at the Vietnamese Embassy in Moscow
President Ho Chi Minh, comrade Nguyen Luong Bang, General Inspector of the Government (sitting on his right side) with other leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam look at the plan model to build Hanoi city, November 16th, 1959

Comrade Do Muoi

When he was the Vice Chairman and then Chairman of the Council of Ministers, then General Secretary of the Party Central Committee, in many times of working with international guests and diplomatic delegations, he had conquered the hearts of people through his simple and meaningful words. Excerpts: Comrade Do Muoi's university is a reality of life and fighting, Prof. Vu Khieu: Stories about comrade Do Muoi, Dan Tri Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, p.257 View pano

Comrade Do Muoi, Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of Hai Phong City Military Committee reads the letter from President Ho Chi Minh to Hai Phong compatriots during the ceremony to celeberate the Vietnamese People’s Army taking control of the City, May 14th, 1955
Comrade Do Muoi, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Construction laid the first brick in the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Vinh city organized by the Administrative Committee of Nghe An province, May 1st, 1974
Comrade Do Muoi, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, visited the High Command of Vietnamese Navy, Hai Phong, May 13th, 1995

Comrade Nguyen Van Tran

The August Revolution was successful, comrade Nguyen Van Tran was appointed by the Party and the Government to be the Vice Chairman of the Northern Administrative Committee, the Chairman was Mister Nguyen Xien - a famous intellectual and many other intellectuals in the Committee. Comrade Tran still cleverly brought the Party's policies and guidelines to success. Excerpts: A memoir worth reading and pondering, Mai Vy - a senior revolutionary official: Revolutionary Memoirs and my life, Hanoi Publishing House, 2011, p.15 View pano

Comrade Nguyen Van Tran, Secretary of the XI Party Committee (Hanoi) and Chairman of the XI Zone Resistance Committee (first row, third from right) and other Standing Committee members in 1946
Comrade Nguyen Van Tran, Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee and other members of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee held a meeting to discuss ways to fight against American aircrafts, 1967
Comrade Nguyen Van Tran, Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee (first from right) attends the Second Congress for excellent women in the Capital in the resistance war against the US to save the country

Comrade Tran Dang Ninh

In just a few years in charge of logistics, Tran Dang Ninh had built a logistics system of the Vietnam People's War, including military logistics and people‘s logistics, to ensure adequate supports for the major forces as well as all the warfare on the battlefields. Excerpts: A competent and experienced practical activist, Vo Nguyen Giap: Comrade Tran Dang Ninh with the Vietnamese Revolution, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2014, p.19 View pano

President Ho Chi Minh and the leaders of the Party and State at the Central meeting in the Viet Bac war zone, 1949 (comrade Tran Dang Ninh, Head of the Central Inspection Committee, Deputy General Inspector of Government, first from right)
Delegates from the two countries of Vietnam and Laos discussed the plan to open Thuong Lao Campaign, 1953 (comrade Tran Dang Ninh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Military Commission, Chairman of the General Department of Supply, first from left)

Comrade Tran Tu Binh

From the Hanoi Opera House, we led the uprising rushing to Residential Palace... I along with comrades Tran Tu Binh, Nguyen Khang and many people passed through the iron gate, running to the hall and entered Residence imperial Commissioner office. In the name of the Revolutionary Military Committee, comrade Tran Tu Binh headed to the workplace of Nguyen Xuan Chu, the head of the "Political Committee", ordering him to surrender... Words of comrade Le Trong Nghia, Member of Hanoi Uprising Committee, 1945 Excerpts: Reportage - Historical witnesses on “Hanoi stands up” day, Police online, February 20th, 2015 View pano

The comrades who leader the General Uprising in Hanoi met again on Viet Bac war zone, in 1948 (from the left: Comrades Tran Tu Binh, Nguyen Khang, Tran Quang Huy, Le Lien)
Comrade Tran Tu Binh (standing row, the first from the left) and representatives attending the second National Delegation of Vietnam Labor Party in Chiem Hoa, Tuyen Quang, February 1951
Ambassador Tran Tu Binh (fourth from right) in the Vietnamese Government Delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Duy Trinh visited China, welcomed by President of the People's Republic of China Mao Zedong, Beijing , 1964

Comrade Le Trong Nghia

In the early days of the August 1945 Revolution in Hanoi, comrade Le Trong Nghia was sent "alone to Residential Palace" to meet Imperial Commissioner Phan Ke Toai to find our his stance and to mobilise support for the Viet Minh battle. Historical witness record of comrade Le Trong Nghia, Administration Board of Hoa Lo Prison Relic, Hanoi, 2013 View pano

President Ho Chi Minh and officials of the Consultant Department at Viet Bac war zone, 1949 (comrade Le Trong Nghia, third from the left)
Comrade Le Trong Nghia (front row, second from the right) and former military cadres of Dien Bien Phu campaign visited General Vo Nguyen Giap at his home, No. 30, Hoang Dieu street, Hanoi

Comrade Pham Thi Van (Hoang Ngan)

The female guerrilla Hoang Ngan is a vivid symbol in countless examples representing the heroic tradition, indomitable, middle-aged and courageous of Vietnamese women. Words of comrade Do Muoi, former General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam View pano

Comrade Hoang Ngan (top left) and some comrades in Hai Phong Party Cell, 1936 - 1939
President Ho Chi Minh and officials Central Secretary of the Vietnam National Women's Union in Viet Bac, February, 1949 (Comrade Hoang Ngan, Provisional Central Secretary, second row from the right)

Hoang Ngan guerrilla team in localities in the resistance war against the French


Comrade Hoang Thi Ai

View pano

President Ho Chi Minh and delegates at the First National Women's Congress in Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province, 1950 (Ms. Hoang Thi Ai - Vice President of Vietnam Women's Union, Party Secretary Central Women's Union, the second row from the right)
Ms. Hoang Thi Ai - Head of the Vietnamese women's delegation (first row, the sixth from the left) attended the Congress of International Democratic Women Union in Denmark, in 1953
Miss Hoang Thi Ai - Vice Chairwoman of Vietnam Women's Union, Secretary of the Central Communist Party of Women Party Committee at the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union in Dai Tu village, Thai Nguyen province, October 1954

Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh

As Chairman of the General Department of Politics, Mr. Thanh has made great contributions to build an army of ideological politics, a system of Party organizations, organizing political work, building a team of cadres, maintaining and strengthening the Party's leadership..., contributing to raise the spirit and the strength of our people. Words of General Vo Nguyen Giap View pano

President Ho Chi Minh and his comrades lead the Party and State in the Viet Bac war zone, March 1951 (Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh, Chairman of the General Political Department, third from the left)
Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam held a meeting to discuss the plan to destroy the Dien Bien Phu base in January 1954 (Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh, Chairman of the General Department of Politics, first from right)
General Nguyen Chi Thanh, Secretary of the Central Committee of the South of Vietnam (right) and comrade Tran Van Tra, Commander of the Southern Liberation Army discussed combat plans

Comrade Van Tien Dung

Mister Van Tien Dung was assigned by the Politburo and the Central Military Commission to directly lead the Buon Ma Thuot battle to start the battles, encouraging the whole front. Excerpts: Van Tien Dung - A loyal communist soldier, a talented general of the army, Chu Huy Man: Forever remember General Van Tien Dung, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2004, p.55 View pano

Major General Van Tien Dung (second from the left) and commaders of the 320th Regiment, in 1953
Major Campaign Commander Ho Chi Minh, March 1975 (seated from left: General Van Tien Dung, comrade Le Duc Tho, Political Commissar Pham Hung)
The moment General Vo Nguyen Giap met with General Van Tien Dung in Saigon, after the liberation of the South, in May 1975

Comrade Song Hao (Nguyen Van Khuong)

At midnight on August 15th, 1945, I was assigned the task of immediately returning to Tuyen Quang, in charge of the uprising in some western provinces, and towns in two sides of Lo and Thao rivers: Tuyen Quang and Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Ha Giang... At Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Yen Bai at that time there were strong war zones and bases organized by our Party comrades in Nghia Lo prison. Excerpts: Senior Lieutenant General Song Hao - Memoir and Works, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2005, p.75 View pano

Lieutenant General Song Hao - Chairman of the Political General Department (third from left) and the delegation of the officials working in Military Region IV, 1965
Lieutenant General Song Hao (first line, third from left) with the Headquarters of Tri Thien Front - the main strategic line in the 1972 campaign
Senior Lieutenant General Song Hao (fourth from left) with the Central Military Commission and the High Command were directing the Sai Gon - Gia Dinh liberation campaign

Comrade Huynh Dac Huong

After escaping from Phu Bai Prison, I joined the provisional Executive Committee of Quang Nam province, in charge of the Tien Phuoc district. On August 18th, 1945, I and my team successfully took control of the government in Quang Nam. Words of Major General Huynh Dac Huong, August 13th, 2019 View pano

Comrade Huynh Dac Huong (second from right) and his teammates participated in revolutionary activities in Quang Nam, August 1945
Comrade Huynh Dac Huong, Head of Delegation of Inter-Region 5 Armistice Sub-Committee (second from the right) at the meeting with Lieutenant Colonel Corbineau, Head of Delegation of French Union Army, April 1955
Comrade Khamtai Siphandon, General Commander of the Laos People's Army awarded the sword - a symbol of Laos martial arts spirit, to Major General Huynh Dac Huong, Commander and Commissar of the Vietnam Military Volunteer and Military Experts in Laos, 1975
Comrade Bounnhang Vorachith, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, President of Laos People's Democratic Republic welcomed Major General Huynh Dac Huong, Head of Communication Committee of Military Volunteers and Military Experts Vietnam in Laos, Vientian, January 2017

2. Remarkable Memories

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Hoa Lo Prison

Historical witnesses meet at Hoa Lo Prison Relic, recall the memory of escape from sewer in March, 1945 View pano

Historical witnesses meet at Hoa Lo Prison Relic, recall the memory of escape from sewer on night of December 12th 1951 View pano

Con Dao Prison

Historical witnesses meet, recall the memory of escape from Dam quay, Con Dao Prison, December 12th 1952

Phu Quoc Prison

Meeting to celebrate the 40th anniversary of "Return in Victory" and "Memorial Ceremony of the sodiers sacrificed in Phu Quoc", at the Historical Site of Phu Quoc Prison Camp, March 15th, 2018

Representatives of the Communication Committee of Phu Quoc Prison Camp for Communist Prisoners in Hanoi met at the Hoa Lo Prison Relic, October 16th, 2019

Other Prisons

Senior Lieutenant General Song Hao (fourth from right) with comrades who joined the escape in 1944 from Cho Chu Prison, March 10th, 1997
President Nguyen Minh Triet and former prisoner of Da Lat Children’s Prison in Presidential Palace, Hanoi, October 2008