Con Dao prison exhibition reveals "hell on earth"

BA RIA - VUNG TAU (VNS)— Valuable documents and photos featuring the history of Con Dao Island, dubbed "hell on earth", with a colossal systems of jails built by the French and Americans, are on display at the Con Dao Temple in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Over 30 large copies of 102 documents written in French and Han Nom (Vietnamese ideogram and Han Chinese script) and photos from the National Archives Centre 1 and the Con Dao Jails Relic Management Board will last until April 30 next year.

The copies will feature the island district since the Nguyen dynasty sent people there to reclaim the virgin land in 18th century; the jail system on the island; ruling people on the island under the French regime from 1876; and patriots and revolutionary soldiers who were imprisoned on the island.

Most of the original documents are kept at the National Archives Centre 1, at 18 Trung Yen Road, Ha Noi's Cau Giay District. — VNS