Historically Evil Prisons That Make Alcatraz Look Like A Five Star Hotel

Hoa Lo Prison

Photo Credit: CORBIS / Corbis / Getty Images

Originally opened by French colonists in 1896 to incarcerate Vietnamese rebels, the Hoa Lo prison has become insanely famous in American political history. It might start ringing a bell when you realize that this prison’s more famous name is Hanoi Hilton.

This is the prison that kept POWs like Congressman Sam Johnson and Senator John McCain captive. POWs were beaten and repeatedly tortured for long periods of time. Their hands were tied to meat hooks and they were constantly in solitary confinement.