Your journey begins at Pier 914, located directly in front of the former Lord Governor’s Residence. This historic pier extends straight into Con Son Bay and is tied to the tragic “914 mystery,” referring to the number of prisoners believed to have died during its construction.
The car then takes visitors to the Con Dao Museum, where you can explore historical artifacts, photographs, and hear compelling narratives from the guides about the atrocities committed by French colonialists and American imperialists, as well as the heroic struggles of Con Dao prisoners throughout both resistance wars.
Next, visitors arrive at Hang Keo Cemetery, the burial ground of approximately 10,000 prisoners executed by the French from the early 20th century through the brutal “white terror” period of 1940–1941. Here, guests may offer incense in remembrance of the nameless souls still resting beneath the soil.
The tour continues to Hang Duong Cemetery, the largest memorial ground on the island. It is the resting place of tens of thousands of Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers and patriots who sacrificed their lives over 113 years of imprisonment and oppression. This is also where visitors and Con Dao residents gather to honor the martyrs with solemn incense rituals.
In front of Hang Duong Cemetery stands the Con Dao Temple, a sacred site dedicated to the ancestors, national heroes, and countless prisoners who gave their lives for Vietnam’s independence and freedom.
The final stop on the tour is the Ma Thien Lanh Bridge, an unfinished stone bridge whose two massive pillars symbolize the suffering and bloodshed of hundreds of prisoners forced into hard labor. The name “Ma Thien Lanh” reflects the haunting, tragic history of this place.
