Con Dao Prison receives the Certificate of Special National Historical Site.

The Prime Minister's decision to recognize Con Dao Prison as a historical site expresses profound gratitude to the heroic martyrs who forever rest on the sacred land of Con Dao, affirming the traditional values ​​of the revolution and fostering the revolutionary spirit and will for future generations of Vietnamese people.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan presents the Certificate designating Con Dao Prison as a special national historical site to the leaders of the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province - Photo VGP/Tu Luong

On the evening of March 23, at the administrative center of Con Dao district, Ba Ria Vung Tau province, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan presented the Certificate designating Con Dao Prison as a special national historical site to the leaders of the People's Committee of Ba Ria Vung Tau province.

Secretary of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Tuan Minh, leaders of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province from various periods, and a large number of people from Con Dao island district attended the ceremony.

Con Dao Prison is one of the notoriously brutal prisons of the old regime, where communist fighters and patriots who opposed the government were imprisoned during the resistance against the French and the Americans. The most visited site within this special national historical monument is the "tiger cage" and "cow cage" area, which exemplify the savagery and cruelty of the French colonial regime towards our revolutionary fighters.

Throughout its 113-year history, Con Dao Prison has been a testament to the indomitable struggle and unwavering will of tens of thousands of Communist soldiers in their fight against French colonialism and American imperialism.

Under the brutal prison regime, approximately 20,000 patriotic Vietnamese people perished. It was here that the heroic sacrifice of Armed Forces Heroine Vo Thi Sau took place, when she was executed on January 23, 1952, at the young age of 19.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Tuan Minh offer incense at the Monument to Martyrs - Photo VGP/Tu Luong

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan stated that the recognition of Con Dao Prison as a Special National Monument not only has significance in the field of conservation and museum management, but also creates new impetus for socio-economic development and provides conditions for the maintenance, restoration, and enhancement of the immense value of this special monument at a higher level.

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan expressed his hope that in the coming time, Con Dao will strive to become a modern tourism economic zone of regional and international stature; a historical relic conservation area with value in honoring and educating about historical traditions; a national conservation area for diverse forest and marine ecosystems; and an important outpost for national defense and security.

Immediately following the ceremony to award the Certificate of Special National Monument status to Con Dao Prison, a spectacular art program with the theme: "The Sparkling Pearl Island" took place, featuring many famous singers and artists.

On May 10, 2012, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 548/QD-TTg classifying the Con Dao Prison historical site (Con Dao district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province) as a special national historical site. Along with Con Dao Prison, other famous sites nationwide were also classified as special national historical sites, including: Hoa Lu Ancient Capital (Ninh Binh), Temple of Literature - National University (Hanoi), Con Son - Kiet Bac (Hai Duong), Ho Dynasty Citadel (Thanh Hoa), Yen The Uprising (Bac Giang), Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area in Kim Lien, Nam Dan (Nghe An), Ton Duc Thang Memorial Area in My Hoa Hung, Long Xuyen (An Giang), Pac Bo (Cao Bang), Tan Trao (Tuyen Quang), Central Committee Base of the Southern Region (Tay Ninh), and Trang An - Tam Coc - Bich Dong scenic area (Ninh Binh).

According to (Chinhphu.vn) - LT