At the beginning of the twentieth century, the French colonialists built Son La Prison into a "hell on earth" to imprison, exile and destroy the fighting will of communist soldiers and Vietnamese patriots. But it was in the dark prison that the aura of the Communists spread and lit up the flames of struggle throughout the mountains and forests of the Northwest. From 1930 to 1945, there were 1,013 prisoners, in which many comrades who were members of the Central Committee, Party Committee, City Party Committee and key cadres of the Party were exiled here. In December 1939, Son La Prison cell was born, turning the imperial prison into a revolutionary school, training for the Party many typical leaders, such as: Le Duan, Truong Chinh, Van Tien Dung, Nguyen Luong Bang , To Hieu,... Today, Son La Prison relic has become the address of traditional revolutionary education for people about patriotism, pride and national pride.
Historical relic Son La Prison was ranked special national according to Decision No. 2408/QD-TTg, dated December 31, 2014 of the Prime Minister.