Created by the French at the turn of the 20th century, this northern prison located in northern Vietnam held some of the highest ranking Vietnamese communists until the Japanese overthrew the French during the coup de force of 9 March 1945. Those held included Nguyen Luong Bang, Tran Quoc Hoan, Le Thanh Nghi, Le Gian, Le Duc Tho, Xuan Thuy, Van Tien Dung, and Nguyen Van Tran among others. See also POULO CONDOR; JEAN COUSSEAU.