My Son Sanctuary is in Da Nang-Hoi An area which has two distinct seasons in the year, the dry season and the wet season. Generally, it’s hot and very hot in the dry season, and it’s wet and cool in the rainy season. In high tourist seasons, this popular attraction becomes also very bustling like Hoi An Ancient Town or Ba Na Hills. So now, let’s HoiAn Day Trip Company reveal the best time to visit My Son Sanctuary. If want to avoid the crowd, visitors should go as early or late as possible.
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• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Knows about My Son Sanctuary (Vietnam)
– Location/address: My Son village, Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province, Vietnam
– Name’s meaning: My Son means ‘beautiful mountain’, not ‘my son’
– How to pronounce: /mee son/
– Other name(s): My Son Ruins, My Son Holy Land, My Son Site, My Son Ancient Ruins, My Son Temples, My Son Cham Towers
– Area: 142 hectares
– Age: 4th to 13rd centuries
– Number of buildings: 71
– Opening hour(s): 6 AM to 5 PM everyday (latest 5:30 PM)
– Ticket price: 150,000 VND for foreign adults and children older than 15. It’s free for small ages, but parents still have to pay 30,000 VND for the transfer service.
– Reason(s) to visit: ancient Hindu temples amid dense jungles, a Unesco world heritage site, performances of Cham people
– Best time(s) to visit: early morning, late afternoon, sunny days
– Time to spend: 1,5-3 hours
– Recognition(s): national heritage, special national heritage, Unesco world heritage site (1999)
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/my-son-sanctuary-vietnam
– Food & drink: yes available
– Shopping: yes available
– Tour guide: contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)
– Fact: My Son Sanctuary is one of the most visited attractions in the region
My Son Sanctuary on Map
Seasons in My Son Sanctuary
My Son Sanctuary is close to Da Nang and Hoi An cities, central Vietnam. In this area, there are two seasons in the year: the dry season and the rainy season.
The dry season lasts from February to the end of August, and is characterized by a high temperature, low rainfall, and many sunny hours. The hottest months are May, June, and July. During this period, the temperature of the day is always between 30 and 40oC.
The rainy season stretches from September to January next year. Between October and early January, it rains the most, and the rainfall is highest in the year. Typhoons potentially hit the area. Therefore, visitors must check the weather forecast in advance, to better plan the trip. Do it everyday!
On the other hand, there are two other seasons in My Son Sanctuary that visitors should know. Firstly, the peak tourist season here is from November to January (just before Vietnamese Lunar new year). In which, international tourists go to My Son more than any time of the year, making it so bustling. Meaning that you will see crowds everywhere if do not go in the early morning or late afternoon. At the performing theatre, seatings usually are not enough.
Secondly, the typhoon season is from October to December/January. If one typhoon hits the area, heavy rains occur, making small rivers inside My Son Sanctuary overflowing and then low lands are flooded (including the main road to My Son). For that reason, this site may be closed for some hours to a day to keep visitors safe. Tourists going from the city have to return due to inundated roads.
See also: Best Time to Visit Hoi An Vietnam
Best Time of the Year to Visit My Son Vietnam
The best time to visit My Son Sanctuary in the year is the period from February to early May, and August to early September.
Between February and early May, the rainy season has ended, so visitors won’t worry about rains or even floods. In My Son Sanctuary, all roads are dry, easy and safe to walk along, and it’s sunny, perfect for taking photos or making videos. In addition, the temperature hasn’t reached the peak yet. By that, visitors won’t have to face the heat here. If traveling with kids, this is a good point. During this period, the weather is nicest to watch birds inside the forests of My Son Sanctuary. Without a guide, sightseers can see/photograph them and hear their songs while staying near temples. In rivers or lakes, lotus and water lilies bloom, and their beautiful flowers are good to have a look at as well.
From August to early September, the hottest time of the whole year is over. Visitors will feel better to explore the sanctuary, and don’t have to go too early or too late to avoid the intense heat in the midday. On the other hand, heavy rains don’t occur yet in this period, making the trip more comfortable, especially for those traveling with kids or like taking photos.
In both ‘best periods’, visitors won’t see too many people in My Son Sanctuary. Unlike other attractions in the area, this world heritage site doesn’t attract a large number of Vietnamese people, because of the differences in culture. So, it’s not as crowded as Hoi An Ancient Town or Ba Na Hills or Marble Mountains. Between August and early September, the peak season of international tourists doesn’t start yet. Those who don’t like seeing huge crowds or expensive services, can consider going to Da Nang/Hoi An in August/September.
Best Time of the Day to Visit My Son Vietnam
During the Dry Season
The best time of the day to visit My Son Sanctuary in the dry season is the early morning (6 to 8:30-9 am) or late afternoon (3 to 5-5:30 pm). This place opens at 6 am and closes at 5 pm.
If visitors sightsee in My Son Sanctuary earlier than 9 am, when the sun is not too high, it’s possible to avoid crowds and the heat. When plan a ‘sunrise tour’, remember that this holy land opens at 6:00 am. Meanwhile, the first ticket is sold, and the transfer by buggy car is available at this time. Sometimes, the buggy car takes the earliest visitors directly to major temples. Make sure that you book a private transfer to My Son Sanctuary from the city to save time. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) to reserve. To be in My Son at 6:00, visitors should leave the hotel around 5:00 am; If would like to learn about the history, let’s take a guided tour!
See also: My Son Sanctuary in Early Morning/Sunrise
In the early morning, restaurants and shops do not open yet at My Son Sanctuary. To get a cup of coffee or something for breakfast/brunch, we recommend having a request for one breakfast box from the hotel the night before. The next morning, just go down the front desk, take it away and hit the road.
In the afternoon, visitors can avoid the crowd and the heat too; My Son Sanctuary serves the last visitors by 5:30 pm; At this time, the buggy car is still available to go back to the main entrance or parking lot; However, the last ticket will be sold at 5:00 pm; From the city Da Nang/Hoi An, we recommend going between 1:00 and 2:30 pm to have time enough to get there and then go around to sightsee; Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) if you want to book a private transfer. If would like to learn about history, let’s take a guided tour!
See also: My Son Sanctuary in Late Afternoon/Sunset
During the Rainy Season
Different from the dry season, the temperature is comfortable throughout the day in the wet season because of rains. Therefore, visitors do not have to go too early in the morning or late in the afternoon to escape from the heat (because no heat!).
We recommend checking the weather forecast at least 1 day in advance, so find out the period at My Son without rain or least rain; Just use Google and type ‘my son sanctuary weather’ to see the chance of rain in the day; Go to the sanctuary when this rate is smallest or zero!
Between October and January, typhoons may hit the area; For that reason, visitors need to check the weather forecast very carefully; Sure, typhoon days are not suitable to go anywhere (if you do not want to waste money); Don’t mind the rain? Please choose hours when the chance of rain is smallest;
See also: My Son Sanctuary On a Rainy Day
Worst Time to Visit My Son Sanctuary
In the dry season, the hottest months (May to July) will not be great to visit My Son Sanctuary. In this period, the sun rises early in the day, and by that, the heat is . To beat the heat, it’s needed to be in the sanctuary before 9 am, or later than 3:30-4 pm. Depending on where you come from, you can decide to go earlier or later than our suggested times. Visitors who live in Southeast Asia or South Asia,
In the rainy season, the worst time to visit My Son Sanctuary is October to December/January (also known as ‘typhoon season’). Heavy rains can make small rivers in this temple complex overflowing; By that, occasionally bridges or paths cross them are flooded; So, visitors may not have the chance to see all temples; Fortunately, the largest group of towers BCD are still accessible; Sightseeing it and watching traditional performances in nearby theatre is somehow enough;
In the high tourist season, between October and late January, those who don’t like seeing crowds should avoid the period from 10 am to 1-1:30 pm. In these hours, group tours or big groups of tourists stay in My Son Sanctuary. The best temples (particularly Group B,C,D) and the theatre where the show occurs, all are nearly full of people. If don’t come earlier than 10-15 mins, there are no seats available to sit down and watch performances. Visitors who like taking pictures, may have no space to stand alone at the best temples. If going with a local guide, the noise may make it more difficult to hear explanations about the history of the site.
See also: Hoi An Vietnam in Rainy Season
What to Wear to My Son Sanctuary
Although My Son Sanctuary was not used anymore from 13rd century, it’s still a holy place in Vietnamese traditional culture. Therefore, visitors need to wear respectfully if plan to visit this place.
In other words, visitors must wear clothes which cover the navel, armpits, and upper knees. Visitors need to make sure that the fabric is not see through, and the shoulder, back, or breast won’t be shown too much.
Additionally, other necessary things are good shoes for long-distance walking (or sandals in the rainy season), sun cream, sun glasses, hat/cap, rain poncho/jacket or umbrella, bottles of water, or stroller for toddler/small kids.
Traditional costumes of Cham and Viet people are highly recommended to wear in My Son Sanctuary. In Hoi An, it’s much easier to find a Vietnamese national costume (ao dai, long dress) than Cham’s one.
Guided Tours to My Son Sanctuary Vietnam
Here are popular guided tours to My Son Sanctuary:
– My Son Half Day Tour: Morning/Afternoon Tour with Cham Show
– My Son Sunrise Tour: Early Morning Tour to Beat Crowd & Heat
– My Son Sunset Tour: Late Afternoon Tour to Avoid The Crowd
– My Son & Marble Mountain Tour: Temples, Caves, Craft Village
– My Son Tour by Boat: Hindu Temples, Sunset Cruise, Cham Show
– My Son & Thanh Ha Pottery Village Tour from Hoi An
– My Son & Hoi An Coconut Village Tour
– My Son & Hoi An Vegetable Village Tour
– My Son, Pottery Village & Coconut Village Tour from Hoi An
– My Son & Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour
– My Son Private Tour from Hoi An
– My Son Private Tour from Da Nang
– My Son & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang
– My Son Bike Tour from Hoi An
– My Son Sanctuary & Lady Buddha Tour from Da Nang
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD organizes My Son tours everyday, from Da Nang or Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to book. Thank you very much!
Photos, Videos about My Son Sanctuary
Here are beautiful photos and videos about My Son Sanctuary:
