SaigonSighs 15. Coconut Prison, Phu Quoc – caution- images of lifesize dolls that depict human suffering.

The prison was established in 1949 by the French to incarcerate anti-colonial dissidents. It’s equivalent in Ha Noi was the infamous ‘Hoa Lo’ Prison which later became the notorious ‘La Maison Central’ whose most famous prisoner was the Airman John McCain. During the ‘American’ war Coconut Prison was used to house communist fighters, sympathisers and political prisoners. It was synonymous with torture and death.

And now for something ‘lighter’

According to the Complete Annals of Đại Việt (the bible of Vietnamese history), the custom of painting eyes on the boats started during the reign of Hùng Vương (2879 – 258 BCE).  When diving fishermen complained of being attacked by crocodiles, the Hùng King suggested that they tattoo their bodies with fish scales and paint the boats with fish eyes. This was to fool the predators into thinking that the fishermen and the boats were fish and parts of sea life instead of the invaders of their environment.

Most annoying phrase – “It’s gone viral” – when I was a kid Virol was a thick sweet malt extract / olive oil ‘gloop’ for kids. I was given a spoonful everyday.

Disadvantages – rotted your teeth, made you fat, made you totally incompetent at all sports or any kind of physical activity.

Advantages – immortality!