Crowds of residents and tourists visit the Hỏa Lò Prison Relic in Hà Nội on September 2, as Việt Nam marks 81 years since its declaration of independence in 1945.

Queues stretch for several hundred metres outside the site, at times reaching Hai Bà Trưng Street, as visitors wait even in the intense midday heat. Inside, families, young people and international tourists explore exhibitions featuring stories, artefacts and memories from an important period in Việt Nam’s history.

Visitors queue from the entrance of the Hỏa Lò Prison Relic towards Hai Bà Trưng Street. VNA/VNS Photos

Children wait excitedly in line for their turn to visit the Hỏa Lò Prison Relic during the National Day holiday.

The Hỏa Lò Prison Relic is packed with visitors, with many groups joining guided tours to learn more about the stories behind its sites and artefacts.

An interactive display designed to resemble a social media post provides a popular photo spot for young visitors exploring Hỏa Lò.

Through documents, photographs and stories of people associated with Hỏa Lò, visitors gain a closer and more visual understanding of its history.

Young visitors look out onto flag-lined Hỏa Lò Street through a watchtower window once used to monitor the prison, on National Day, September 2.

Visitors view historical photographs and documents displayed along the corridors of the Hỏa Lò Prison Relic.

Visitors explore the Bút thép, lòng son (Steel Pens, Loyal Hearts) exhibition, featuring press materials associated with different periods of Việt Nam’s revolutionary struggle.

Young people take photos outside the Hỏa Lò Prison Relic as a long queue of visitors waits to enter behind them.

Visitors queue from the entrance of the Hỏa Lò Prison Relic towards Hai Bà Trưng Street.