Chi Hoa - History

History

In 1930s, the 1890 French-built Saigon Grand Prison (Maison Centrale de Saigon) became overcrowded because of the increasing number of prisoners at that time. This situation prompted the French Indochina government to build a new and larger prison to replace the Saigon Grand Prison. In 1939 (or 1943, depending on various sources), the government began the construction of Chi Hoa prison by hiring French contractors and using the design of local Vietnamese architects. In 1945, the construction was interrupted by the Empire of Japan overthrowing of the French. After the return of the French in 1950, the construction was resumed and the building process was completely finished in 1953.

After the completion of Chi Hoa prison, Emperor Bao Dai decided to permanently shut down the Saigon Grand Prison and transferred all prisoners to the new prison. From this point on, the government of the State of Vietnam (later Republic of Vietnam) used the prison extensively.

After the fall of Saigon in 1975, the new government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has continued to use this prison until the present day. In 2010, the government Ho Chi Minh city announced a plan to demolish the prison and build a new corporative housing over the prison's land.