Phu Quoc Prison History Museum

Known locally as the Coconut Tree Prison, this is where the French and later the South Vietnamese held tens of thousands of prisoners of war. The reconstructed cells, barbed-wire cages and mannequin scenes are blunt about the torture that went on here — the tiger cages in particular are hard to forget. It's a heavy, sobering hour, not a cheerful outing, but it's the most important historical site on the island and admission is free. Read a little of the history first and it lands harder. Not one for young kids.

Highlights