The Maison Centrale prison was built by the French in 1886-1901; later it became the Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton" by the American pilots held in it.

Today, the Hoa Lo Prison is a museum, but "historically, one of the biggest and highest, security prisons in Indochina.

The Maison Centrale as it looked in 1896-1954, before becoming the Hoa Lo Prison.

Much of the prison has been torn down; the drawing is what remains of the prison today.

The office building built on the former prison grounds.

Walking into the prison museum--every prison needs a souvenir shop.

The top of the prison wall

The prison museum is two things: a memorial to the Vietnamese who were held and tortured here by the French and a "testimonial" by the Vietnamese of "how well American prisoners were treated during the Vietnam War."

In the room above, were many photos, though none or only few were dated. This photo appears to refer to the Maison Centrale period. Inside a cell.

Mannequins are used in another room to illustrate how the Vietnamese prisoners, most of them political prisoners, were held.

Close-up

Close-up

Walking through the prison

The Cachot area--the dungeon

The leg irons used

Another prisoner

The French guillotine

Gate to a memorial to the Vietnamese prisoners of the French

Memorial wall

Close-up

Bas-relief on the wall

Bas-relief on the wall

Bas-relief on the wall

Underground sewer door. On December 24, 1951, 16 political prisoners crept through the underground sewer door--five succeeded.

Back to the photographs--the public bathroom

The prison kitchen

The death cell

One of the detention zones

Female political prisoners held by the French

The political prisoner unifrom

Now for the Vietnam War Era--U.S. demonstration demanding U.S. withdrawal from South Vietnam.

"Support by nations around the world for the Vietnamese struggle for national independence."

On the wall: portraits of some American pilots who were arrested, then imprisoned in Hoa Lo (Hotel Hilton). Top: Nicholas Guarino, shot down June 14, 1965, released Feb. 12, 1973; left: Jeremiah Denton, July 18, 1965-Feb. 12, 1973; right, Richard Keirn, July 24, 1965-Feb. 12, 1973.

Top: James Hughes, May 5, 1967-March 4, 1973; bottom: Gordon Larson, May 5, 1967-April 3, 1973; right: Gareth Anderson, May 19, 1967-April 3, 1973.

Lieutenant-Commander John McCain being rescued from Truc Bach Lake.

John McCain's flight suit worn when he was rescued when his A4E Skyhawk was shot down on Oct. 26, 1967 (probably not his real flight suit whch would have been in tatters).

North Vietnamese army doctor treating John McCain's wounds

Senator John McCain visiting the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site, April 2000.

Air Colonel John P. Flynn's belongings at the Hoa Lo Prison. His F1050 Thunderbird was shot down on Oct. 27, 1967,

List of personal effects given to American pilots, 1964-1973.

Most of the rest of the photos show "how well" the Vietnamese treated the American pilots and what a "good time" they were having when they were imprisoned. This photo: An army doctor doing a periodical medical examination for one of the American pilots.

A pilot who was held prisoner here believes that these photos hang in the Blue Room, where the pilots were tortured. Photo: Americann pilots decorating their rooms for Christmas

American pilots celebrating Christmas Eve

American pilots preparing Christmas dinner

Christmas picture drawn by American pilots in the prison

Ho Chi Minh's New Year's Message--see album

American pilots enjoying a film on the Vietnamese country and people

Playing basketball in the prison yard

Playing billards

Chess competition

First American pilots released at Gia Lam Airport on February 12, 1973

American pilots released at Gia Lam Airport on March 14, 1973