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Located west of Hoi An in the middle of a lush valley surrounded by jungle mountains is a cluster of Hindu temple remains, the My Son Sanctuary.
It’s a unique site within Vietnam not only for the fact that it was once at the centre of the ruling Champa groups but also for the reason that its construction development began in the 4th century—these structures were going up eight hundred years before Angkor Wat!
This sanctuary was one of the most important constructions for the Champa civilization. Therefore as of 1999, the My Son Sanctuary is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Nowadays the sanctuary has become a popular day trip from Hoi An for those looking for a picturesque and historical outing.
In this article, Da Nang Transfer will provide you with everything you need to know about visiting this historic sanctuary in the hills of Central Vietnam.
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The History of My Son Temples
The My Son Sanctuary consists of a series of tower temples. These are the remains of the unique Cham culture that was present on the central coast of Vietnam during the 4th to 13th centuries CE. The temples were continuously constructed and built up over the next ten centuries. They were the political and religious capital of the Champa Kingdom for that time, with spiritual origins based in Indian Hinduism. Many of the temples were built with the purpose of worshipping the Hindu divinities such as Krishna and Vishnu. However, Shiva above all is predominately portrayed in the reliefs found.
The My Son Sanctuary temples were built by an intriguing construction process where soft firebrick, assembled by hand, was rubbed into its final position. Therefore a much more sophisticated technique than the modern process of bricks and mortar. Mainly used by the Champa as a place of worship, kings and religious leaders were interred here as well. The site was used until the early 19th century before it was forgotten and reclaimed by the jungle.
The Rediscovery of the My Son Sanctuary in 1885
My Son was rediscovered by the Western world in 1885 when the French encountered the site. First documentation, excavations, and inventory works were carried out by Henri Parmentier and his colleagues over 12-months (1903-1904). So at this point in time, My Son was comprised of 72 monuments that were classified into 13 groups. The groups categorised the temples by estimated construction date, along with unique elements that differentiate the structures in the area—therefore making it easier to record and document the temples.
Unfortunately, during the Vietnam War the Viet Cong used the ruins as a base, and consequently, the site was bombed extensively by the Americans. After that, this reduced the number of monuments to 17, now categorised into eight different groups.
The My Son Sanctuary and its monuments are perceived to be the most important constructions of the Champa civilization. For instance, they uniquely depict the cultural interchange that was taking place at the time, with an indigenous society adapting to external cultural influences, namely Indian Hinduism. The main reason why the My Son Sanctuary was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1999.
In front of every group of temples is a plaque explaining the significance of the structures. Pay close attention to any large indents in the earth here – bomb craters left from the tons of bombs dropped in the area.
How Long Does it Take to Get to My Son from Hoi An & Da Nang
Getting to My Son Sanctuary takes approximately one hour headed west from Hoi An. Well paved roads lead the way effectively making the journey by motorbike a solid option. If you choose to take a car to approach My Son travel time will vary with traffic. Being 43km north of My Son, departing from Da Nang is still a viable choice but expect city traffic.
Visiting the My Son Ruins
My Son Sanctuary ticket price: 150,000 VND (6.50 USD) – Business hours: 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The My Son Sanctuary is located on a 142-hectare property on the backdrop of Cat Tooth Mountain. When you enter the actual property, a well-marked path takes you all the way around the area and to the different groups. The remaining temples today are categorised and labelled A to H. Group B-C-D make up the largest cluster and are the best-preserved buildings. However, details and decorations in the other groups are much smaller in comparison and are fading due to age.
Warning: It’s important that you don’t leave the marked paths as demining is ongoing, and the surrounding area has not been completely cleared of unexploded ordnance.
The Museum at the My Son Sanctuary
Before making your way to the temples, we recommend you visit the museum. It is located 100 metres behind the ticket booth on the right side of the road. With a permanent and thematic exhibition, it provides historical, archaeological, and religious information about My Son and the Cham civilisation. The entrance to the museum is free and is a good idea to check it out because it will give you a better understanding of what you’ll be seeing.
Opposite the museum is the bridge and road to the temple complex. While it’s entirely possible to walk up to the site, we’d suggest taking one of the free electric buses that depart frequently. So you can save your energy for wandering around the area and enjoying the temples.
The drop-off location from the bus is also the start of the marked path leading you through the site. There are also a few restaurants here offering refreshments and an office where you can hire a private tour guide to accompany you.
My Son tour guide: 100,000 VND (5 USD) – Big bottle of water: 20,000 VND (1 USD)
Dress Code
Official regulations call for “civilised tourism” and ask visitors to remember that this is a religious site. We advise modesty and to save the beachwear and the like for the beach. Note that covering knees and shoulders is not strictly enforced. However, staying cool and protecting yourself from the sun is probably more important as the My Son Valley holds the heat of the day.
How to get to the My Son Temples ? Self Guided Trip Vs Tours
Do you prefer the freedom of cruising at your own leisure or sharing the experience with other like minded individuals? Hidden looks at the pros and cons of each.
Going yourself comes with the possibility of a fluid itinerary. Stay and stare as long as you want and take a break where you please. However with the pleasures comes the responsibility of renting a motorbike, then trusting you know how to get to My Son. There are many backroads that although lead to My Son are still tricky to navigate. Once you’re in and still wish to share in the history of the site keep an eye out for on-site tour guides. If they haven’t approached you first they’re often piecing together tours of their own so you don’t have to miss out.
Going with a tour allows all the necessary preparations to be done for you. So there’s no worrying about how to navigate getting to My Son. This includes the transport to and from the site, ticket to enter, a knowledgeable guide, and often even a meal. While you won’t get lost, managing a group of tourists means that an itinerary is crucial. Therefore following the crowd as you shuffle from landmark to landmark isn’t for everybody. Read our full article about available tours to My Son here.
Note: Sometimes the group size promised turns out to double. If you’re not keen on travelling in large groups then choose another option.
Options to get to My Son range from daily shuttle buses to motorbike or scooter. If you appreciate the slower pace of the countryside perhaps a bicycle tour is a good fit for you. Even hiring a private car proves a viable option if you’re looking for more of an individual experience.
Getting to My Son Sanctuary by Taxi or Private Car
Hiring a private car or taxi is also a viable option to get to My Son Sanctuary. Private transfer services usually need 24 hour notice and normally only accept longer rides. This is a good idea for those prone to pit stops whether it be to stretch your legs, use a restroom, or grab a quick refreshment. Prices vary but on average a private transfer costs you about 690,000 VND (30 USD) for a 4-seater car round trip. Check out Danang Transfer’s full article on the benefits of private transfers here.
The taxi option costs about 500,000 dong (22 USD) just one way. Booking is easy, just arrange it with your hotel reception, however there’s likely a small added booking fee. If you choose to book direct there are many online options available with hotel pickup. Reliable taxi and ride-hailing options include Mai Linh and Fast Go. Both options do their bookings via a downloadable app.
Noted : Booking private cars guarantees a ride all day. Your driver will wait for you. Taxi and ride-hails are only one way unless you prearrange and ask them to wait.
Tours to My Son Sanctuary
Public Tour
There are plenty of tour operators around town to book a public tour to My Son with. All of which offer relatively the same package deal. It’s possible to book online for some tours. However, we recommend you book in person to get a really good price. The public tours offer two times to choose from to depart from your hotel and are all usually around 7:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. The tour lasts approximately four hours in total.
Private Tour
Choosing to do a private tour to the My Son Sanctuary is a great option if you’re looking for a more comfortable outing. You’ll be able to choose a time of your choice to be picked up from your hotel, and you’ll have the added comfort of being driven in an air-conditioned car. The driver waits in the parking lot while you take your time exploring the My Son ruins. It is a convenient and pleasant day if you’re willing to spend the extra money.
Sunrise Tour
Choosing a sunrise tour to the My Son Sanctuary holds the benefit of enjoying the ruins with a soft and dreamy light compared to the harsh rays of daytime. Additionally, the temperature will be more bearable. It’s due to these reasons that the sunrise tours are gaining popularity among visitors. Therefore this, in turn, has led to an increase in tourists in the early hours of the morning amongst the temples.
Noted : If you choose to take a private car to My Son for sunrise make sure you state this clearly to your driver, along with what time you want to be there. In some unfortunate cases due to misunderstandings, the sun has already risen upon arrival.
Boat Tour
Another interesting tour option is to travel to the ruins by car and to return to Hoi An by boat. After enjoying My Son you go to a dock on the Thu Bon River and watch the world go by cruising back downstream towards town.
Noted: For those who are wary of cramped spaces we advise against shuttle vans and buses. These are often filled to maximum capacity with up to 50 people. Consider a private tour option instead.
Danang Transfer’s Thoughts
Whether you’re an experienced traveller exploring preserved UNESCO sites across Vietnam or sight seeing while on holiday, My Son deserves a share of the spotlight. For groups and families with small children, Da Nang Transfer recommends taking the private car, retro jeep tour as the bus tour notoriously becomes packed. There’s also the alternative of opting for a private transfer. Experienced riders should definitely consider the self-drive motorbike route as this part of Vietnam is beautiful to navigate through.
The local culture of Hoi An derived from the Champa people who ruled over this land over 1,000 years still lingers. You see it in the architecture of these ancient temples as well as in the minds of local guides who express their own wonder of this historic compound. My Son is worth the visit and no matter how you get there you’ll be sure to leave feeling the same sense of enchantment.
