Hang Keo Cemetery, covering an area of 80,000 m², is one of the most haunting historical sites on Côn Đảo. It is believed to be the burial ground of around 10,000 prisoners who were brutally murdered by French colonial forces from the early 20th century through the “White Terror” campaign of 1940–1941.
A Name Etched in Sorrow
For generations of former prisoners, the words “going to Hang Keo” became a mournful way to say farewell to a comrade who would never return. The cemetery’s notoriety has been immortalized in poetry and folk verses passed down through time:
“Côn Lôn đi dễ khó về
Sống nương Núi Chúa, thác về Hàng Keo.”
(“To Côn Lôn you go, but seldom return;
Alive you cling to Nui Chua, dead you lie in Hang Keo.”)
These lines reflect not only the cruelty of colonial repression but also the hopelessness that overshadowed the prisoners’ lives.
A Cemetery Without Graves
In 1997, the remains found at Hang Keo were exhumed and reinterred in Zone D of Hang Duong Cemetery, the main memorial site of Côn Đảo. Today, Hang Keo is no longer a traditional cemetery with marked graves. Instead, it is an open landscape of wild forest—beneath which many unidentified prisoners still lie buried, their locations lost to time.
Visitors who arrive at dusk often describe an eerie stillness: the whisper of sea winds, the dim light filtering through the trees, and the overwhelming sense of standing on hallowed ground.
A Nationally Significant Relic
Hang Keo Cemetery stands as a solemn reminder of the brutality of colonial prisons and the immense sacrifice of thousands of revolutionary fighters and patriots who died for Vietnam’s freedom. The site plays an important role in educating future generations about the nation’s history of resistance and resilience.
The cemetery has been officially recognized twice by the government:
- April 29, 1979: Designated as a Special National Relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information.
- May 10, 2012: Upgraded to National Special Relic status by Decision No. 548/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister.
Preservation Challenges
Despite its sacred status, parts of the site have deteriorated over time. The absence of protective fencing has led some visitors to light fires or picnic within the grounds—activities that risk environmental damage and disrespect the sanctity of the cemetery.
For these reasons, restoration and conservation of Hang Keo Cemetery remain urgent priorities to ensure this historic relic is preserved with the dignity it deserves.
