Why is Hoa Lo Prison called the Hanoi Hilton?

Hoa Lo Prison is called "Hanoi Hilton" because this name was given to it by American prisoners of war during the war with the United States. The irony was that the conditions for Americans were relatively mild compared to those in which Vietnamese political prisoners were held earlier.

American prisoners of war, mainly pilots, were allowed to play sports games, celebrate Christmas, and generally conditions were created that contrasted with the horrors of ordinary prison life. It was this contrast that gave rise to the sarcastic name "Hanoi Hilton" - by analogy with the well-known chain of luxury hotels.

Interestingly, this prison also held future U.S. Senator John McCain, who was shot down over Vietnam and spent several years here in captivity. A separate exhibition in the museum is dedicated to this period of history.

We have detailed the history of Hoa Lo Prison and its different periods in the article Hoa Lo Prison Museum in Hanoi: how to visit, opening hours and cost. We recommend reading it for a full understanding of this historical place.

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