SON LA MUSEUM
BRIEF SUMMARY OF SPECIAL NATIONAL RELIC SON LA PRISON
In early twentieth century, French colonialists established their ruling system in the Northwest. Simultaneously with the construction building projects such as French Governor’s Residence, provincial garrison and barracks; in 1908 the French built Son La Prison in order to confine and suppress the resistant will of communists
and Vietnamese patriots. After three times of building, upgrading and expanding it in 1908, 1930 and 1940, Son La Prison now owns a total area of 2.184sq.m, consisting of 49 large and small cells. Among 1930 and 1945, French colonialists exiled 14 groups of prisoners with a total of 1,013 people to Son La Prison , many of them were members of National Committee, Regional Committee, City Committee and key members of the Communist Party as To Hieu, To Quang Dau, Nguyen Luong Bang .... French colonialists took the advantage of harsh climate in forest and mountainous area,where there were thousands of diseases as well the harsh detain regime to make prisoners weakened in order to step by step kill their will, energy and spirit. With all those wicked conspiracies, the brutality of French colonialists has been defeated. Vietnam communists turned the empire prison into a school prison to train cadres for communist party. In December 1939, one temporary communist party in Son La Prison was established, marked as an important turning point for political struggle in Son La. A congress of temporary party was held in May 1940 and To Hieu was elected as Secretary of the party. Five fundamental tasks were set up including focusing the struggle against harsh detain regime; improving material life and mutual spirit of prisoners, organizing academic training to improve in all fields; propaganda, mobilize and set up grassroots revolution inside and outside prison.Basing on that,it was to liberate prisoners, take key members of the party back to the revolutionary movement which was executing strongly throughout the country, take back the power in Son La and participate in whole insurrection in August 1945. Hundreds of communist soldiers was trained and matured, who became senior leaders of the party,significantly including Le Duan, Truong Chinh, Nguyen Luong Bang, Van Tien Dung, Le Duc Tho, Nguyen Huu Tho, Nguyen Van Tran, Le Thanh Nghi, Tran Quoc Hoan ...
Nowadays, Son La Prison has become "red address" (important place) contributing to educate people in Son La and people in the whole country about revolutionary history. Every year, Son La Prison has welcomed and provided visiting service for hundred thousands of visitors from domestic and international tours. The peach tree in the prison was named after To Hieu, is a symbol of indomitable morale of the communist soldiers in Son La Prison. It has been growing up with green leaves and its fruits in every spring, this also creates a highlight and bring an emotional feeling for each visitor when coming to visit Son La Prison. Son La Prison was ranked as Special National Relic stated in Decision No. 2408 / QD-TTg, on 31, December 2014.
