1 May 1975 is a special milestone in the history of Côn Đảo. Just one day after the liberation of Saigon, political prisoners on Côn Đảo rose up on their own initiative, broke their chains, opened the prison camps and took control of the island. This event ended 113 years of the Côn Đảo prison system and opened a new era for a place once known as “hell on earth”.
What makes the liberation of Côn Đảo distinctive is that the political prisoners organized their own forces, took control of the camps, established an administration and stabilized the island before military units arrived from the mainland to take over.
From isolation cells and tiger cages, after years of harsh imprisonment, thousands of prisoners emerged in the first days of May 1975 to experience a moment of freedom that many had thought they would never live to see.
Côn Đảo before its liberation in 1975
More than a century of the prison system
In 1862, the French colonial authorities officially established a prison on Côn Đảo, beginning a period lasting more than a century in the island’s history.
From its earliest detention facilities, the prison system expanded to include numerous camps, communal cells, solitary confinement cells and forced-labor sites.
Under French colonial rule, Côn Đảo held many patriots and figures involved in movements opposing colonialism.
After 1954, the Republic of Vietnam government continued to use and expand the prison system.
Many new detention areas were built, including isolation compounds notorious for their harsh living conditions.
Throughout these historical periods, tens of thousands of people were sent to Côn Đảo. Many died from illness, exhaustion, prison conditions and various forms of repression.
Historical figures such as General Secretary Lê Hồng Phong, patriot Nguyễn An Ninh, Võ Thị Sáu, Nguyễn Văn Cừ and many other patriotic activists left their mark on the history of Côn Đảo Prison.
By 1975, the prison system still held large numbers of political prisoners and people convicted under various categories.
More than 7,000 people in detention
According to historical documents, in the final days of April 1975, Côn Đảo Prison held approximately 7,448 prisoners, including more than 4,000 political prisoners.
They were divided among eight main camps and their associated facilities.
The political prisoners included many revolutionary cadres, university and school students, workers, farmers and people involved in movements opposing the Saigon government.
Many had spent years in detention, enduring deprivation and separation from their families.
Yet even in these conditions, prisoners established clandestine organizations, maintained communication between cells and organized numerous struggles demanding better living conditions and opposing the prison regime.
These organizations later played an important role in the uprising that liberated Côn Đảo.
Late April 1975: The situation on Côn Đảo changes
In late April 1975, the Hồ Chí Minh Campaign advanced rapidly, bringing major changes throughout southern Vietnam.
On 30 April 1975, the Republic of Vietnam government announced its surrender, marking the victory of the campaign to liberate Saigon.
Meanwhile, on Côn Đảo, information reaching the prison camps from the mainland remained strictly controlled.
In the final days of April, prison authorities increased guard measures, restricted daily activities and transferred some prisoners to different detention areas.
Routine activities were suspended or curtailed. Many detention compounds were sealed off, and contact between prisoners was tightly controlled.
The atmosphere in the camps became tense.
According to former prisoners, those detained noticed many unusual signs, from aircraft movements and changes in guard routines to the anxiety of some prison staff.
Some island leaders and administrative personnel began seeking ways to leave Côn Đảo.
For the political prisoners, however, verifying news of the fighting remained crucial. Acting too soon, while the situation was unclear, could expose them to repression.
It was at this moment that a historic opportunity appeared.
The night of 30 April 1975: News of Saigon’s liberation reaches the camps
At Camp VII, where many political prisoners were held, news of Saigon’s liberation began reaching the detainees.
According to the recollections of former prisoner Trần Trọng Tân, some people connected with the island’s church sought contact with representatives of the political prisoners, informed them of the situation and proposed cooperation to maintain order.
At first, the prisoners did not immediately place complete trust in this information.
They feared it might be a ploy to lure those with organizing roles out of their cells.
Those responsible therefore asked to verify the report themselves using a radio receiver.
Once they confirmed that Saigon had been liberated and the situation on the island was changing, they quickly decided to act.
From the detention areas of Camp VII, prisoners found ways to open the doors, leave their cells and contact one another.
The hours between the night of 30 April and dawn on 1 May 1975 became the decisive turning point of the uprising.
After years of imprisonment, the political prisoners began to liberate themselves.
Dawn on 1 May 1975: Political prisoners rise up and take control of Côn Đảo
The uprising begins at Camp VII
Camp VII was one of the first places where the uprising took place.
As soon as they understood the situation, prisoners opened numerous detention areas, organized their forces and quickly contacted representatives of other camps.
By approximately 3 a.m. on 1 May 1975, the areas of Camp VII had been liberated.
The prisoners quickly formed a provisional leadership to direct the uprising, organize the liberation of the remaining camps and maintain security on the island.
Two figures mentioned in historical accounts of this period are Trịnh Văn Tư, also known as Tám Lô, and Trần Trọng Tân, a revolutionary cadre imprisoned on Côn Đảo.
Emergency meetings were held to assign duties, connect camp representatives and agree on a course of action.
Establishing leadership in the very first hours helped coordinate the uprising and limit disorder.
Opening the prison camps and freeing thousands of prisoners
After taking control of Camp VII, the political prisoners continued opening other detention areas.
Particular attention was given to camps holding women and people under death sentences.
In many places, prisoners who had long been held in isolation could step outside for the first time without being controlled by guards.
The liberation of the camps took place alongside the gathering of forces and the organization of an administration.
Representatives were sent to the central coordinating body to organize the necessary work.
By approximately 8 a.m. on 1 May 1975, all eight camps, holding more than 7,000 prisoners, had been liberated. Armed forces organized by the political prisoners had taken control of Côn Đảo town.
This was a particularly significant victory: people who had been imprisoned became the force directly determining the change of authority on the island.
Establishing leadership and a provisional administration
Once the camps were opened, the urgent task was not only to free the prisoners but also to administer an island undergoing major upheaval.
Côn Đảo still had residents, administrative personnel, soldiers, former prison-system employees and several different groups of prisoners.
Food, medicines, medical facilities, supply depots, communications equipment and military positions all needed protection.
The leaders of the uprising quickly assigned forces to take over important facilities.
A provisional leadership organization was formed with representatives from the camps.
At the same time, the Côn Sơn Province Committee for National Reconciliation and Concord was established to coordinate management of the situation and stabilize life on the island.
According to Trần Trọng Tân’s recollections, the committee included representatives of the political prisoners, members of the former administration who agreed to cooperate, and religious representatives.
Father Phạm Gia Thụy was invited to serve as chairman of the Committee for National Reconciliation and Concord.
This arrangement aimed to maintain order, limit conflict and ensure that essential activities on the island continued without interruption.
Immediate tasks included managing food, medicine stores and medical facilities, organizing protection forces, supplying the newly freed prisoners and encouraging those remaining on the island to cooperate in maintaining security.
1 May 1975: Côn Đảo is officially liberated
Morning: The liberation announcement is broadcast
After the prisoners took control of the camps and the town, news of the liberation was announced widely.
At around 10 a.m. on 1 May 1975, the island’s broadcasting system announced that Côn Đảo had been liberated and named the members of the new administration.
This is one of the milestones recorded in numerous historical studies and later commemorative documents.
The announcement played an important role in reassuring residents, groups of prisoners and people working at facilities on the island.
Alongside establishing an administration, the insurgent forces organized security measures and continued dealing with positions not yet under their control.
Afternoon: Taking control of the remaining positions
After gaining control of the town, armed forces formed from the political prisoners continued deploying to other important locations.
Historical documents record that the sites taken over that day included the Bến Đầm military subsector, military facilities on the island and the Cỏ Ống airport area.
Control of these positions was important for Côn Đảo’s security and defense capabilities.
By approximately 6 p.m. on 1 May 1975, the insurgent forces had gained complete control of Côn Đảo.
Thus, 1 May 1975 marks the victory of the uprising and the liberation of Côn Đảo, before military units arrived from the mainland in the following days.
2–4 May 1975: Contacting the mainland and receiving reinforcements
After taking control of Côn Đảo, the island’s leaders faced many new problems.
Communications with the mainland were unreliable, security risks remained, and caring for thousands of newly released prisoners was an urgent task.
Communications teams sought to use the radio system to report the situation.
During 2 May 1975, information from Côn Đảo was transmitted to the mainland.
According to Trần Trọng Tân’s recollections, when asked what assistance was needed, the prisoners’ representatives requested flags and portraits of President Hồ Chí Minh.
Many commemorative accounts repeat this detail as an emblematic image of Côn Đảo’s first days of liberation.
4 May 1975: Forces from the mainland arrive on Côn Đảo
At dawn on 4 May 1975, naval vessels carrying armed forces from the mainland arrived at Côn Đảo.
When the reinforcements reached the island, the political prisoners had already taken control of the camps, established an administration and gradually stabilized the situation.
The arrival of mainland forces strengthened protection, the takeover of facilities and the organization of subsequent activities.
That afternoon, a rally celebrating the complete liberation of Côn Đảo was held in the grounds of the former island governor’s residence.
Many former political prisoners and residents attended in an emotional atmosphere.
This was when the provisional administrative organizations handed their responsibilities over to the military administration.
It is therefore important to distinguish 1 May 1975, the date of Côn Đảo’s liberation, from 4 May 1975, when mainland forces arrived and takeover activities and victory celebrations were held.
The first ships bringing former Côn Đảo prisoners back to the mainland
One important task after liberation was to bring prisoners home to reunite with their families.
Many had been detained for years, were in seriously weakened health, had been unable to contact relatives and knew almost nothing about life outside.
Ship voyages were arranged to bring former prisoners from Côn Đảo to the mainland.
Priority was given to those who were seriously ill, had been under death sentences or needed special medical care.
On the afternoon of 4 May 1975, the first groups of former prisoners began leaving Côn Đảo.
On 5 May 1975, a ship brought approximately 550 people back to Vũng Tàu.
In the Rạch Dừa port area, the returnees received an emotional welcome.
After years of imprisonment, setting foot on the mainland marked not only the end of a sentence but also the beginning of a new life.
In the following days, more ships continued bringing former prisoners home.
Some were reunited with parents, spouses, children and friends after long separations.
Others could no longer reunite with loved ones because of losses during the war.
Some former prisoners volunteered to remain on Côn Đảo to help administer the island, build its government and stabilize daily life.
Ending 113 years of Côn Đảo Prison
The events of 1 May 1975 ended the operation of the Côn Đảo prison system, which had been established in 1862.
Over 113 years, this place passed through numerous historical periods and witnessed the imprisonment, struggles and sacrifices of generations of Vietnamese people.
The significance of Côn Đảo’s liberation extended beyond the island itself.
It marked the end of a prison system associated with policies suppressing anti-colonial movements and later political struggles.
The cell blocks, solitary cells and tiger cages no longer served their former detention functions.
Over time, many structures were preserved, restored or converted into historical sites for research, education and visits.
Today, the Côn Đảo prison system is an important part of a Special National Historical Site complex.
The surviving remains help later generations understand a historical period marked by sacrifice and loss, while recognizing the spirit of resistance of those once imprisoned here.
The distinctive role of political prisoners in Côn Đảo’s liberation
One of the most striking aspects of the events of 1 May 1975 was the initiative of the political prisoners.
Even in detention, they maintained clandestine organizations, communications networks and solidarity.
When political and military circumstances changed, these organizations became the core of the uprising.
The prisoners not only opened their own cells and regained their freedom but also organized protection forces, took over facilities, maintained order and established a provisional administration.
This shows that the liberation of Côn Đảo was not simply a consequence of the collapse of the Saigon government.
It also resulted from a long struggle within the prison system and the political prisoners’ ability to organize and act when an opportunity arose.
In former prisoners’ memories, 1 May 1975 was the moment they went from detainees to free people directly involved in determining the island’s future.
This characteristic gives the liberation of Côn Đảo its distinctive meaning within the history of 1975.
Côn Đảo after liberation: From a prison island to an island in development
After May 1975, Côn Đảo entered a new historical period.
Immediate tasks were to stabilize residents’ lives, reorganize administration, develop the economy and build infrastructure.
In the following decades, Côn Đảo underwent many changes in administrative organization, economic activity and living conditions.
Transport systems, seaports, the airport, electricity, water, medical facilities and education gradually received investment and expanded.
As services and tourism developed, increasing attention was paid to conserving historical sites.
Many prison camps were preserved as witnesses to the past, while Hàng Dương Cemetery became a memorial space of special significance.
Today, Côn Đảo is known for its outstanding natural, cultural and historical values.
Visitors can explore its seas, forests and natural ecosystems and learn stories connected with the history of the prison.
Côn Đảo’s development also brings a responsibility to conserve the environment, protect heritage and ensure that historical memories are not obscured by changes in modern life.
When is Côn Đảo Liberation Day commemorated?
Côn Đảo Liberation Day is officially commemorated on 1 May each year according to the Gregorian calendar.
This is the date used for information, public-awareness and commemorative activities.
Notably, for the 50th anniversary of Côn Đảo’s liberation in 2025, the Central Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization agreed to use 1 May 1975 as the official anniversary date.
Commemorative programs may take place on other dates to suit local plans.
For example, the political and artistic program marking the 50th anniversary of Côn Đảo Liberation Day was held at Hàng Dương Cemetery on the evening of 3 May 2025.
It is therefore necessary to distinguish the date of the historical event from the date of a particular commemorative program.
When publishing event calendars on websites introducing Côn Đảo, 1 May must remain the fixed anniversary date. Times for incense-offering ceremonies, artistic programs, exhibitions and community activities should be updated according to each year’s official announcements.
Exploring liberation history through Côn Đảo’s historical sites
For visitors interested in the events of 1 May 1975, the sites of the Côn Đảo prison system help bring the historical context into clearer focus.
Camp VII is especially closely linked to the first hours of the uprising. It was here that many political prisoners began acting after verifying news of Saigon’s liberation.
The tiger cages, isolation cells and other camps help visitors understand living conditions, methods of prison administration and forms of resistance within the prison.
At Côn Đảo Museum, photographs, artifacts and documents present the island’s history, from the establishment of the prison to periods after 1975.
Hàng Dương Cemetery is the resting place of many patriots, revolutionary fighters and prisoners who died during the prison’s history.
Visitors can learn about figures such as Lê Hồng Phong, Nguyễn An Ninh and Võ Thị Sáu, along with many others who left their mark on Côn Đảo’s history.
Combining visits to historical sites with reading historical documents and listening to guided explanations gives the journey greater depth than simply viewing the buildings.
The historical significance of 1 May 1975 for Côn Đảo
Côn Đảo Liberation Day has special significance in several respects.
First, it marked the end of a prison system that had existed for more than a century.
Second, it was a victory for political prisoners who maintained their organizations, solidarity and determination to struggle under extremely harsh conditions of confinement.
Third, the uprising demonstrated the initiative of local forces in seizing an opportunity, organizing action and taking over the administration.
Finally, it opened a period in which Côn Đảo moved from a place primarily associated with imprisonment toward building civilian life, developing its economy and conserving its historical values.
In the memories of many generations, 1 May 1975 is not only the day Côn Đảo was liberated, but also the day thousands stepped out of prison cells to return to a life of freedom.
From 1 May 1975 to the present, Côn Đảo has undergone profound change. Amid its beaches, roads and modern residential areas, the prison sites remain as reminders that freedom on this island is linked to the losses, sacrifices and efforts of many generations.
Preserving these sites is also a way to preserve the memory of the day Côn Đảo turned a new page in its history.
Frequently asked questions about Côn Đảo Liberation Day
When was Côn Đảo liberated?
Côn Đảo was liberated on 1 May 1975, one day after Saigon’s liberation.
Who directly liberated Côn Đảo?
The core of the uprising consisted of political prisoners held on Côn Đảo. They organized themselves, opened the camps, formed armed units and took control of the island before troops arrived from the mainland to provide reinforcement.
When did liberation forces from the mainland reach Côn Đảo?
Ships carrying armed forces from the mainland arrived at Côn Đảo at dawn on 4 May 1975, after the uprising had succeeded and the island’s situation had largely stabilized.
How many prisoners were freed?
Historical accounts record more than 7,000 prisoners held on Côn Đảo at the time of liberation, including more than 4,000 political prisoners. The precise figures vary slightly between some sources.
Why is Côn Đảo Liberation Day important?
1 May 1975 marked the end of 113 years of the Côn Đảo prison system and demonstrated the political prisoners’ initiative in the uprising to take control of the island.
References
- Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Provincial Museum: The Days That Ended Hell on Earth, recollections of Trần Trọng Tân, published 6 August 2020.
- Vietnam News Agency (VietnamPlus): Moments and Events of 1 May: The Liberation of Côn Đảo, 1 May 2025.
- Cần Thơ Municipal Party Committee’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Côn Đảo Liberation Day, 5 May 2025.
- Government Online Newspaper: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Côn Đảo Liberation Day, 3 May 2025.
- Côn Đảo Tourism Portal: Gathering to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and Côn Đảo, 28 April 2025.