In order to preserve and bring to light the intrinsic values of the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site, the Management Board of the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site focuses on conserving and exploiting its internal values, disseminating the historical values of the site to a diverse audience…
As an exemplary revolutionary historical site in the capital, the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site (No. 1 Hoa Lo Street, Tran Hung Dao Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi) currently presents two fixed exhibitions portraying the harsh lives of political prisoners, the unwavering spirit of patriotic soldiers during the colonial prison era (1896-1954), and the lives of American pilots in the Hoa Lo Prison (1964-1973). The Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site has become a “red address” for fostering patriotic spirit and national pride among the younger generation.
Tableau in thematic exhibition “Minute of Revival”
Despite its advantageous historical and political significance, the number of visitors to the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site remains relatively low, especially among Vietnamese tourists. To preserve and bring out the value of the site, the Management Board of the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site is committed to conserving and leveraging its internal values, spreading the historical significance of the site to a broader audience. Under the leadership of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, the Management Board of the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site has implemented changes in its conservation and valorization activities. This includes a focus on restoration, embellishment, repairs, and the collection of materials and artifacts to preserve the historical values of the site. Every year, architectural elements undergo periodic surveys, maintenance, and timely reinforcement in accordance with conservation standards. Over the past five years, the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site has conducted interviews with nearly 100 witnesses and collected over 300 artifacts, creating a rich source of materials for research and innovative exhibition work.
The Management Board of the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site has introduced creative touring and experiential activities to keep the site fresh. This involves creating informative displays tailored to different age groups and delivering historical content to visitors through narration by guides, combined with sound effects and performances illustrating historical events. The site also employs an automated narration system translated into seven languages. Practical experience activities have been developed, such as manually pounding stakes made from American bombs, donning straw hats and hiding in the A-shaped tunnel; experiencing escaping through underground sewers, or witnessing reenactments of historically significant events related to the exhibition content. These experiences allow generations that lived through wartime to touch their memories, helping today’s younger generation to authentically feel the bygone era of turmoil that their forefathers endured.
Unveiling the ‘Sacred Night 3 – Flames of Youth’ experiential tour program
The Management Board of the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site has launched an immersive night tour program under the themes “Sacred Night – Radiant Vietnamese Spirit” and “Sacred Night 2 – Living Like Flowers.” The nocturnal ambiance of the historical site is ingeniously blended with sound, light, and authentic narratives of the harsh life within prison walls, presented through staged scenes that transport visitors through time, allowing them to perceive history unfolding before their eyes. The Management Board introduces the “Sacred Night 3 – Flames of Youth” tour program in 2023; in 2024, the “Night of Love” program; and in 2025, the “Comradeship Night” program. Additionally, from 2023 to 2025, the Board focuses on developing and launching daytime experiential programs themed “Time Travel 1, 2, 3” for students at all levels of general education.
The Management Board of the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site also constructs and disseminates the image of the historical site across various platforms to keep pace with the digital era’s technological advancements. Simultaneously, they enhance interaction efficiency with visitors through platforms like Facebook, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, bringing the site closer to the public. From having merely 55,000 likes on its Facebook fan page in December 2020, the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site has now garnered nearly 200,000 likes.
Visitors are listening to automated narration at the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site.
The Management Board regularly organizes exchange activities and knowledge-sharing experiences among heritage units to adopt new methods for conserving and valorizing the historical site. They continually improve personnel training to ensure that all staff members are aligned with the common development goals, propelling the site towards continuous growth.
In the coming period, the Management Board of the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site will persist in its efforts in conserving and valorizing the historical site. The unit hopes to receive attention and guidance from the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, as well as the collaboration and support of heritage units, making the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site truly one of the captivating destinations for historical lessons, and an impressive sightseeing spot for domestic and international tourists.
Mai Chi