Hang Duong Cemetery, located on Con Dao Island, is the final resting place of tens of thousands of Vietnamese revolutionaries and patriots who sacrificed their lives during 113 years of imprisonment under French colonial rule and the U.S.-backed regime. Today, it stands as one of the most solemn spiritual landmarks in Vietnam.
Where is Hang Duong Cemetery located?
Hang Duong Cemetery is situated in the northeastern area of Con Dao, within the Con Dao National Park complex, about 1 km from Con Son town center. This is the largest memorial site on the island and also the most visited spiritual destination.
History of Hang Duong Cemetery
Hang Duong Cemetery covers an area of 190,000 m². Based on historical estimates, around 20,000 prisoners died in Con Dao prisons, though not all were buried in Hang Duong. The earliest burial grounds were located at Chuồng Bò Cemetery (also known as “the skull site”), then moved to Hang Keo Cemetery. After 1934—especially during the brutal repression following the 1940 Southern Uprising—the French expanded a new cemetery: Hang Duong Cemetery, which has remained until today.
The cemetery is divided into four main zones: A, B, C, and D (with B further divided into B1 and B2).
Zone A
This is the earliest burial section (around 1934), with the graves of:
- Lê Hồng Phong – former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam
- Nguyễn An Ninh – patriotic scholar and revolutionary leader
Zone B
Expanded after 1944, this area holds the graves of prisoners from the resistance against French colonialism and the later U.S.-backed regime. Here lie:
- Võ Thị Sáu – Hero of the People’s Armed Forces
- Cao Văn Ngọc – Hero of the People’s Armed Forces
- Lưu Chí Hiếu – Hero of the People’s Armed Forces
Zone B2 contains graves of prisoners who died during the American war period.
Zone C
Used from the 1960s onward, this zone includes:
- Lê Văn Việt – Hero of the People’s Armed Forces
- Nguyễn Thị Thanh (Trần Thị Hoa) – Heroine of the People’s Armed Forces
- Huỳnh Tấn Lợi – Hero of the People’s Armed Forces
Zone D
- Built during the restoration in 1992, this section holds 162 remains relocated from Hang Keo, Hon Cau, and other sites on the island, including the grave of Trần Văn Thời – Hero of the People’s Armed Forces.
A cemetery unlike any other
Unlike typical military cemeteries in Vietnam, Hang Duong Cemetery carries both historical and spiritual weight. With more than 1,920 recorded graves (only 713 identified by name), every mound of earth represents a revolutionary life cut short by oppression and sacrifice.
The way prisoners were buried was heartbreaking:
Simple wooden stakes, small metal plates showing only a prisoner number, and many graves later lost due to storms, cattle, or the harsh natural environment. Countless others were buried on the spot where they died during forced labor, or lost at sea during escape attempts.
These haunting verses reflect the tragic past:
“Núi Côn Lôn được pha bằng máu
Đất Côn Lôn năm sáu lớp xương người…”
“Nghĩa địa Hàng Dương vùi thây bao số phận
Hết lớp này lớp khác dập lên trên…”
The sacred resting place of Võ Thị Sáu
Today, the most visited grave is that of Võ Thị Sáu, the legendary 18-year-old heroine. Stories of her courage on the execution ground and the miracles surrounding her grave have created a deeply spiritual connection for countless visitors.
Many accounts say that those who once vandalized her grave faced unexplained misfortune. In fear and respect, a later prison warden and his wife rebuilt the gravestone—marking the beginning of its preservation until today.
A place of remembrance and spiritual peace
Despite its painful past, Hang Duong Cemetery does not feel cold or desolate. Visitors often describe a peaceful atmosphere—blended with the sound of waves, the gentle wind through the casuarina trees, and solemn music playing softly throughout the cemetery.
Here, people come day and night to light incense, pay respect, and reflect on the sacrifices that shaped Vietnam’s freedom.
National recognition
Hang Duong Cemetery was officially recognized as a Special National Relic Site by:
- The Ministry of Culture & Information – Decision No. 54-VHQĐ on 29 April 1979
- The Prime Minister – Decision No. 548/QĐ-TTg on 10 May 2012
A must-visit spiritual destination in Con Dao
Hang Duong Cemetery is not only a memorial to heroic martyrs but also a powerful reminder of Vietnam’s struggle for independence and peace. Visiting this sacred ground is a deeply emotional experience—one that honors the courage, resilience, and unbroken spirit of those who gave their lives for the nation.
