The museum will showcase the island's natural habitat and the daily life of local people; but will also focus on Con Dao Prison which was built in 1861 by French colonists as a jail for those considered threats to the colonist government.— Photo VGP

BA RIA – VUNG TAU (VNS)– The Con Dao Museum was inaugurated in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau on Friday and will feature 2,000 images, artifacts and documents on the history of Con Dao District.

The two storey museum aims to foster an appreciation for the history of Con Dao Prison, according to Tran Minh Sanh, chairman of the provincial People's Committee.

The museum will showcase the island's natural habitat and the daily life of local people; but will also focus on Con Dao Prison which was built in 1861 by French colonists as a jail for those considered threats to the colonist government.

Prisoners included high ranking leaders in Viet Nam's history who often referred to the site as "hell on Earth". Prisoners were kept cramped in cages and were tortured inhumanely by their captors.

The site is considered an important historical site that pays homage to a heroic period in Viet Nam's history, Sanh said.

After four years of construction, the museum aims to raise awareness among local people and tourists of the plight of Vietnamese soldiers on the island, during the struggle for national independence. – VNS