Cover Author Do Thai Binh reveals the global journey of Vietnamese patriots from exile to freedom
Author Do Thai Binh reveals the global journey of Vietnamese patriots from exile to freedom
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Nearly 90, author Do Thai Binh uncovers the journey of Vietnamese patriots who turned exile into an epic return home.
Imagine being exiled more than 12,000 nautical miles from home, in the heart of a South American rainforest where rough seas and storms reign. More than a century ago, three Vietnamese patriots—Ly Lieu, Nguyen Quang Dieu, and Do Van Phong—turned their dream of freedom into reality through a daring escape from a prison in French Guiana.
Their extraordinary journey took place at a time when only a handful of Vietnamese officially travelled abroad to study, trade, or work as diplomats. They were none of these. Sentenced for opposing the French colonial regime, they and their comrades were exiled to Guyane, through regions described in contemporary accounts as ‘tough waves and strong winds’ and ‘tropical storm centres’. Yet it was their escape from the prison island, navigating many unfamiliar lands on a quest to return to their homeland, that became the real epic. Their story is now the focus of Three Escapees from Guyane by marine engineer Do Thai Binh.
As a maritime expert, Do Thai Binh has attempted to reconstruct the entire journey undertaken by the Vietnamese patriots. Their route spanned the globe from Hai Phong in Vietnam to El-Harrach in Algeria, then escorted to Guyane, escaping to Trinidad and Tobago, passing through New York, landing in Hong Kong, before travelling to Guangzhou in China and finally returning home.
Many of the places they passed through, according to Do Thai Binh, were once prisons but are now serene tourist destinations. Some bustling towns and villages have vanished, while others are being restored for commercial use. Yet the shadow and legend of these Vietnamese patriots still lingers in each of those lands.
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Maison Carrée: The exiles’ entrance
The adventure began not in Guyana, but in El-Harrach, Algeria, a town the French called Maison Carrée, known for its square-roofed Islamic fortresses. Situated near the port of Algiers, amid quiet marshes, Maison Carrée served as a cold transit point for colonial prisoners. Ly Lieu, Nguyen Quang Dieu, and Do Van Phong were held in this ancient fortress, described as a ‘silent mausoleum’, for three months, enduring harsh procedures while awaiting transfer to colonial prisons in Guyana, Gabon, or Obock.
Above At nearly 90 years old, author Do Thai Binh is still dedicated to his research projects
At nearly 90 years old, author Do Thai Binh is still dedicated to his research projects
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Today, El-Harrach retains its old-world charm. The white El Harrach Bridge, which connects the port to the town, and the 1870 Town Hall are architectural reminders of the colonial era. The old prison fortress, however, has long since been replaced by modern Algeria. Visitors can stroll along the Muslim-inspired streets, sip Arabic coffee, and sense the history carried by the three patriots and their fellow prisoners.
Guyane: Green hell, indomitable people
After 14 days and nights confined in iron cages aboard a prison ship, the three patriots arrived in Guyane, a colony known as the ‘Green Hell’. The entire territory, as Do Thai Binh describes it, was a giant prison, with camps stretching from the Maroni River in the west to the Oyapock River in the east, including the infamous Salvation Islands: Royal, St Joseph, and Devil’s Island. Ly Lieu, Nguyen Quang Dieu, and Do Van Phong were held in the Malgaches camp, downstream of the Maroni River, where they endured hard coal work and severe punishments.
Above To bring true stories about the prison escape journey of patriotic Confucian scholars, author Do Thai Binh visited many areas
To bring true stories about the prison escape journey of patriotic Confucian scholars, author Do Thai Binh visited many areas
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Yet Guyane could not suppress the Vietnamese spirit. Exiles left a lasting imprint, from the prison complex known as Bagne des Annamites to the Annamese fishing villages along the Maroni River. In memory of their homeland, they built Vietnamese-style houses, took up fishing, and brought pho, their traditional dish, to this strange tropical land. These fishing villages, often mistaken by locals for ‘Chinese villages’, were not only temporary shelters but also vital networks of support for escapes. It was here that Ly Lieu connected with the Chinese-Vietnamese community, laying the groundwork for his daring escape in 1917.
Today, Guyane is an eco-tourism destination of unspoiled beauty. Visitors can explore Salvation Island, a former prison, or float along the Maroni River, sensing the vitality of lands that were once sacred forests and treacherous waters. Those fortunate enough may find a Vietnamese restaurant in St Laurent, where pho remains a testament to the memory of those exiled from their homeland.
From Trinidad to New York: Oceanic intrigue
Escaping from Guyane was no easy task. Emperor Napoleon III once likened the forest and the sea to ‘the gendarmes’ who prevented all prisoners from fleeing. More than 9,000 escape attempts were recorded, most of them unsuccessful. Yet the Vietnamese patriots Ly Lieu, Nguyen Quang Dieu, and Do Van Phong avoided reckless isolation. They cleverly disguised themselves as Chinese merchants, sailing to Port-of-Spain in Trinidad and Tobago, a longer but safer route than the one taken by Henri Charrière, the famous Guyana prisoner and writer.
In Port-of-Spain, Ly Lieu adopted the name Joseph Lee and established a shop on Charlotte Street, the heart of the Chinese community. The street, still vibrant today, offers Caribbean-Chinese cuisine, street festivals, and a glimpse of Trinidad’s lively culture. Though old buildings have given way to modern structures, the Chinese heritage remains evident in the food and daily life.
Above On the journey following the footsteps of three Confucian scholars who escaped from prison in Guyana, author Do Thai Binh was accompanied and supported by his life partner, Mrs To Minh Nguyet
On the journey following the footsteps of three Confucian scholars who escaped from prison in Guyana, author Do Thai Binh was accompanied and supported by his life partner, Mrs To Minh Nguyet
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From Trinidad, the three continued to New York, stopping at Angel Island, a point of arrival for Asian immigrants. They blended with the Chinese community, hiding among the chaotic streets. Today, the museum on Angel Island preserves these immigrant stories, recalling the homesickness of the three Vietnamese patriots. Visitors to New York can explore Chinatown, enjoy Vietnamese pho, and imagine the days the three men spent there, awaiting passage back to their homeland
Guangzhou: Crossroads of revolution
The journey did not end in America. From New York, the three patriots boarded giant ocean liners bound for Hong Kong, before arriving in Guangzhou, the hub of Asian revolutionary movements. Nguyen Quang Dieu travelled via Sichuan before reaching Guangzhou, where he stood before Hoang Hoa Cuong, the cemetery of revolutionary martyrs, including Pham Hong Thai. Ly Lieu, who changed his name to Ly Phung Xuan, returned to Vietnam in 1929, continuing his revolutionary work until 1964. Do Van Phong, disguised as a Chinese, sought refuge in the South, carrying with him an indomitable spirit.
Above Author Do Thai Binh and his research work “Three people escaped from prison in Guyane”
Author Do Thai Binh and his research work “Three people escaped from prison in Guyane”
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In the 21st century, Guangzhou has become a modern metropolis, yet Huanghuagang remains a sacred site for history enthusiasts. Visitors can wander through bustling food streets, enjoy dim sum, and sense the fervour of a revolutionary era where the three patriots once walked.
Remarkably, the journeys of Ly Lieu, Nguyen Quang Dieu, and Do Van Phong were not unique. New York, Hong Kong, Guangzhou: these cities were also visited by leader Ho Chi Minh and patriot Tran Trong Khiem. These locations, like fateful crossroads, were not merely the backdrop for escapes but the convergence of revolutionary ideals, connecting strangers united by a burning desire for independence and freedom. Through meticulous research, Do Thai Binh has recreated not only a prison break but also a cultural odyssey, showing how Vietnamese people brought pho, fishing villages, and an unyielding spirit to distant lands.
From the Maroni River to Charlotte Street, from Angel Island to Huanghuagang, the story of these three revolutionaries is a testament to the profound love of one’s homeland and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. When visiting Trinidad, New York, or Guangzhou today, one can still sense the footprints of Vietnam, whispering stories of an endless journey.
Author Do Thai Binh graduated from the University of Transport and Communications in 1966, majoring in Ship Hulls. For decades, he has been a leading figure in the shipbuilding industry and a member of international professional organisations, including the Royal Institute of Naval Architects of England (MRINA) and the Shipbuilding Society of America (MSNAME). He is currently Vice President of the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Science and Technology Association (VISIA).
He is also an independent translator and researcher, with a particular interest in maritime heritage and historical issues concerning Vietnamese exiles in the early 20th century. He has translated numerous specialised works on the maritime industry, such as Maritime Encyclopedia, Indochina Sailing Ships, Roads on the Sea, and In the World of Ships. This passion led him to investigate the tragic escape journeys of colonial soldiers, especially his grandfather, patriot Do Van Phong, culminating in his book Three Escapees from Guyane Prison.
At nearly 90 years old, author Do Thai Binh has just released this historical research, the result of a decades-long quest to uncover the truth about Vietnamese Confucian scholars exiled to the French colony in South America.
Article published from original content in Tatler Vietnam, August 2025 issue
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Photography: Lê Lai
