Construction of the pier began in 1873, located directly in front of the Governor’s Palace (Dinh Chúa Đảo). The project lasted for decades, undergoing multiple repairs and extensions before it reached its present form. The name “Pier 914” was given by prisoners to commemorate the countless inmates who perished during its construction.
Under French colonial rule, prisoners were forced to quarry stones from the foot of Mount Chúa and transport them manually to the site. Every stage—from extracting the stones to carrying and assembling them—was done by human labor. Massive blocks weighing several tons exhausted and crushed many prisoners. Those too weak to carry the stones were beaten to death; those who managed to carry them often collapsed from exhaustion.
The pier was largely completed around 1930. Prisoners, who secretly counted each death, estimated 914 men had fallen, though the number is symbolic—representing the immense sacrifices of those who died during the grueling construction.
A Place Marked by Pain
Prisoners died from many causes:
- being crushed by falling rocks
- collapsing trees
- starvation and thirst
- forced overwork
- brutal beatings by guards
Former inmates recounted chilling memories:
A boulder too heavy for four men to lift—when they begged for more help, the overseer beat them and removed one man. Three could not lift it, so one more was removed. Eventually only two remained, forced to carry the impossible load, only to be crushed beneath it…
Over 113 years, under both French colonial rule and the U.S.-backed regime, tens of thousands of prisoners were exiled to Con Dao. Upon setting foot on the pier, they were immediately subjected to savage beatings—guards using truncheons and sticks to strike their heads while shouting threats and insults during roll call.
Witness to Liberation
Pier 914 also witnessed moments of immense joy and historical significance:
- September 1945: more than 2,000 political prisoners were freed.
- May 1975: over 4,000 political prisoners were released and returned to the mainland following national reunification.
Yet countless others set foot on this pier only once—never to leave Con Dao again. Their sorrow, pain, and unbroken spirit still echo in the stones:
“This pier of stone,
Each rock laid by a fallen head.”
and:
“Oh Con Lon, each stone is a life…”
“Stones stacked to build the pier—
As many blocks as there were rivers of blood.”
Recognition as a National Special Relic
The Historical Pier 914 was officially recognized as a Special National Monument by the Ministry of Culture and Information on April 29, 1979 (Decision No. 54-VHQĐ).
On May 10, 2012, the Prime Minister issued Decision 548/QĐ-TTg, reaffirming its status as a National Special Relic Site.
