An hour drive from Da Nang/Hoi An, My Son Sanctuary is a complex of ancient temples in the middle of tropical forests. Its nickname is the ‘Angkor Wat of Vietnam’ due to similar Indian architecture and history of discovery. In many months of the year, this place is usually busy. During the summer, it’s humid here due to high temperature and geographical location. So now, let’s HoiAn Day Trip Company tell you how to visit My Son Sanctuary to avoid crowds and the heat.
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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-travel-guide
– Food & drink: yes availables
– 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
Why Is My Son Sanctuary Crowded?
Ways to Avoid Crowds at My Son Sanctuary
The busiest time of the year in My Son Sanctuary is from October to January. It’s exactly the high season for international tourists in the area, because this site is a main attraction.
In these peak months, the busiest hours at My Son Sanctuary are between 10 am and 2 pm. One of the reasons to explain why is that the main ‘My Son’ show occurs in this period (3 times). A show often lasts 15 mins, including fantastic art performances from Cham artists, such as dancings or playing traditional musical instruments. So, it’s not difficult to understand that local tour companies want their visitors to watch it, and learn about Cham culture. Additionally, before or after the show, only 5 mins is needed to walk to the best preserved temples (Group B,C,D). When it finishes, groups of tourists can return to the parking lot and then the city, to have lunch.
For that reason, to avoid crowds, visitors should be in My Son Sanctuary before 10 am or after 2 pm. The site opens at 6 am, so an early morning visit is absolutely possible to arrange. To make sure that you won’t see crowds while staying here, you should leave the city (Da Nang/Hoi An) between 5 am and 7 am. Depending on how much you are interested in temples, you can consider departing as early as possible, or later a bit.
Visitors should choose a reliable private car and driver to visit My Son Sanctuary in the early morning. Text us by whatsapp +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) to book. Thank you very much!
In the afternoon, My Son Sanctuary closes at 5 pm. To avoid or escape the crowd, we suggest staying here to sightsee from 3 to 5 pm (visitors must leave My Son before 5:30 pm!). A show happens at the Theatre at 3:30 pm. In the rainy season, from September to January, visitors should check the sunset time to time the trip better. In this season, the sun goes down soon, and of course, nothing to see when it’s dark! In the rest of the year, the sun may disappear later than 5 pm. Visitors may see an orange/red sky behind the mountains.
In the early morning or late afternoon, visitors will enjoy extremely fresh air, a sense of peace and tranquility, watching animals and hearing bird songs, and the best photo opportunities of the day (when there are no people, perfect light conditions). On many days, hills and forests here are soaked in fog, showing a very lovely scenery. Many travelers mentioned that they visited a park instead of a religious place.
If want to avoid crowds, visitors may need to skip the ‘My Son’ show (because crowds are there).
Ways to Avoid the Heat at My Son Sanctuary
The hottest months of the year in My Son Sanctuary are from May to July. During this period, the temperature is always higher than 30oC, and may be up to 40oC. It rarely rains.
The temperature in My Son Sanctuary may be higher than nearby cities Da Nang and Hoi An. It also means that visitors may feel hotter while staying here. Although it’s in the mountains and surrounded by dense forests, its geographical location supports this unusual natural phenomenon. It’s a valley encircled by hills, therefore the wind needs to fly up to their peaks, and then go downslope, making it warmer and drier. Hills also like a fence that doesn’t allow the heat to escape, making the temperature rise quickly in the day. The hottest hours definitely are in the midday, from 11 am to 3 pm.
To avoid the strong heat at My Son Sanctuary, visitors need to visit before 11 am or later than 3 pm. In the morning, if possible, let’s go as early as you can. The site opens at 6 o’clock, so if leave the city of Da Nang/Hoi An at 5 or 5:30 am, you may be the first visitor. When arrive, you won’t have to wait for the ticket or buggy car for the transfer.
Visitors should choose a reliable private car and driver to visit My Son Sanctuary in the early morning. Text us by whatsapp +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) to book. Thank you very much!
In the afternoon, we suggest departing the city of Da Nang/Hoi An at 2 pm, and then watching the last ‘My Son’ show at 3:30 pm, once go to temples. The closing time of My Son Sanctuary is 5 pm, and visitors need to leave it by 5:30 pm. During the rainy season, from October to January, it’s cooler but it’s dark earlier (than the dry season). For that reason, visitors can start the whole trip before 2 pm.
In the early morning or late afternoon, visitors will enjoy extremely fresh air, a sense of peace and tranquility, watching animals and hearing bird songs, and the best photo opportunities of the day (when there are no people, perfect light conditions). On many days, hills and forests here are soaked in fog, showing a very lovely scenery. Many travelers mentioned that they visited a park instead of a religious place.
In other months of the dry season, particularly February to May, and August, it’s still hot at My Son Sanctuary in the midday.
Because it’s wet and cool during the rainy season, visitors can go anytime. However, heavy rains, typhoons, and floods are other ‘problems’ of this season that you should know before visiting.
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:
