Phu Quoc Prison, otherwise known as Coconut Tree Museum, is a stark reminder of the horrors and severe repercussions of war. Built by the French for prisoners deemed as especially dangerous during the French colonial period, the prison subsequently became a Prisoner-of-war (POW) camp under the administration of the Republic of Vietnam, housing more than 32,000 imprisoned Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers. During the Vietnamese war, this number increased to an alarming 40,000, with separate areas for men, women and the elderly.

Today, Phu Quoc Prison serves as a site of great historical significance and has been recognized as a historical monument at the national level since 1993. The prison attracts more than 10,000 visitors each year and is perfect for travellers’ keen to learn more about the extremely brutal war crimes caused by aggressive colonialism and imperialism. Exhibitions documenting the disturbing atrocities that were commited within the prison will shock and sadden visitors, especially the section on torture tools that were used on the POWs. Some examples include the “Catso tiger cage”, usage of wooden sticks to forcibly remove teeth, and the torturing of prisoners in an oven. Filled with the horrors of days past, the prison is a sobering and moving reminder of the cruel effects of war, and reinforces the need for continued peace and diplomacy in the world.