Heavy seasonal rains and the overflowing Thu Bon River frequently cause severe flooding at the ancient My Son Sanctuary in Vietnam. Because the historic Hindu temples sit in a low-lying valley basin, the rising waters submerge the archaeological grounds and threaten the preservation of the delicate brick structures. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company will provide more information about the flooding at My Son Sanctuary and how to avoid it.
You may also like: How to Visit My Son Sanctuary to Avoid the Heat or/and the Crowds
• 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
My Son Sanctuary Vietnam on Map
When Is My Son Sanctuary Flooded?
The rainy season at My Son Sanctuary typically occurs from September to December. During this period, heavy rainfall is common, often leading to muddy or slippery paths. While severe flooding is not constant, heavy downpours can occasionally cause local rivers to overflow, potentially restricting access to certain temple areas. The main reason is from the typhoon. For that reason, visitors can understand that when the typhoon hits the area, My Son may be flooded.
See also: The Best Time to Visit My Son Sanctuary, Vietnam
My Son Sanctuary is highly prone to flooding because it sits in a low-lying, bowl-shaped valley that acts as a natural basin. During the rainy season, intense monsoon rainfall and runoff from surrounding mountains quickly accumulate in the area, causing nearby rivers and streams to overflow into the site.
My Son Sanctuary will be closed immediately if it’s flooded and it’s not safe anymore. If came to this place already and not allowed to enter, visitors can wait until all safety conditions are okay (we think that the wait time may be up to a few hours). If it stops raining, it’s a good news for a re-opening soon, because the rivers inside My Son run very fast. When do not want to wait, please return to the city quickly to escape from the flooding areas.
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours and transfers to My Son Sanctuary. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Where It’s Flooded in My Son Sanctuary?
Here are spots in and near My Son Sanctuary that will be flooded:
– The spot near the entrance of My Son Sanctuary. There is a stream here, and when it rains too heavily, the water will rise up and cover the road. Many visitors have to return or walk by barefoot to continue the trip.
Google maps: 15°46’37.7″N 108°06’32.5″E
– Two spots on the main path from the buggy station to BCD temples and show venue.
Spot 1: a short walk from the buggy station (Google maps: 15°46’03.7″N 108°07’11.5″E)
Spot 2: near the lotus lake (Google maps: 15°45’57.1″N 108°07’17.9″E)
– The spot (bridge) between the show venue and BCD Temples
Google maps: 15°45’50.3″N 108°07’26.1″E
– The spot (bridge) between BCD Temples and G Temple
Google maps: 15°45’47.2″N 108°07’28.8″E
– The main road to My Son from Da Nang and Hoi An because it crosses rice fields and lowlands. If it’s not too high, vans and buses can move, and the trip can continue. By the way, riding the motorbike to My Son is a bad idea when the flooding is seen in the area.
Here are other important information to note:
– If the car/van can come to My Son, visitors can walk from the entrance to My Son Museum and then buggy station.
– The buggy can take visitors for 2 kilometers (like any other days).
– From the station where visitors get dropped off, the walking path to the temples can be flooded. However, can follow the rope to avoid falling. Staff of My Son World Heritage Management Board also will be there to assist every tourist.
– Temples and the stage where the show takes place, won’t be flooded.
– The walking path from the show venue to BCD Temples (biggest temple), may be flooded. Rope is prepared by My Son World Heritage Management Board to guarantee the safety. Recently, there is a concrete bridge built.
– The walking path from BCD to G Temple, A Temple, and EF Temples, may be flooded because it cross a major river. It means that visitors may have no chance to see these temples (and go back by the same route).
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours and transfers to My Son Sanctuary. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
How to Avoid Flooding in My Son Sanctuary
To avoid the flooding at My Son Sanctuary, visitors should know these tips:
– Go to My Son Sanctuary in the dry season or at least avoid the wettest months of the year, particularly November and December. If can’t change the date, keep the day (or session) when you want to see My Son free from any plan. When the weather is good (can hope), let’s go ahead. It means that do not book any tour or transfer to this place yet.
– Do not go to My Son Sanctuary when it rains heavily in the city (Da Nang or Hoi An). At that time, roads to My Son can be flooded, making no vehicles possible to reach the site. On many days, tours must be cancelled and all cars must return. Do not waste your time when try to get there when a warming is on.
– Do not go to My Son Sanctuary when there is a typhoon in the area. It’s easy to get the information about this from people in the hotel, or check the news. We think that indoor activities should be priortized (such as tailoring, handicraft workshops, watching bamboo circus show, coffee hopping, museum hopping,…)
– Try to see My Son Sanctuary in the morning because thunderstorm or heavy rain often occurs in the afternoon. When the weather forecast shows that the chance of rain is 60-100%, please change the plan and visit My Son on the another day.
– Do not go to My Son when Hoi An Old Town is flooded. If you see streets inside this town are covered by water, My Son can be flooded the same too. Search ‘Hoi An flooding right now’ on Google for the lastest information and photos.
By the way, if possible, book a My Son tour without a charge when you change the date or even cancel the whole tour. The flooding at My Son is unexpected for visitors, so if understand that, the operator will help to organize the tour on a different day or just refund the payment.
We recommend visitors to have a back-up plan if it still rains heavily.
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours and transfers to My Son Sanctuary. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
How to Visit My Son Sanctuary Safely When It’s Flooded
When safety is not guaranteed, My Son Sanctaury will be closed and visitors won’t be allowed to enter. So, if you can go into this place, your safety is the priority of people and site managers.
If visitors come to My Son Sanctuary when it gets flooded, here are ways to visit it safely:
– Wear waterproof shoes. Avoid getting a flip flop because it’s very easy to get falled.
– Walking on barefoot is not a good idea, because your feet can be get hurted by cobbles, rocks, trees, animals,…
– Bring rain pponcho/jacket, umbrella, hat/cap. Umbrella may be borrowed from hotel.
– Bring light, easy-to-dry clothes.
– Bring a towel (just take it from the hotel). Sometimes you need to use it to dry up the hair.
– Bring a shirt or jacket to wear because when the feet is wet, you feel a bit coldy (especially when sit in an A/C car). Additionally, the flooding often occurs in the coldest months, it becomes very helpful to keep warm.
– Bring snacks for children because the shops and restaurants may be closed.
– Follow all instructions from the sfaff/security men.
– Do not enter any temples if see a warning sign. A security will stand here, and even if you want to cross the fence and walk further, it’s still impossible.
– Book a private tour or transfer to have the most comfortable service.
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours and transfers to My Son Sanctuary. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Guided Tours to My Son Sanctuary Vietnam
Here are popular guided tours to My Son Sanctuary:
– My Son Sanctuary Half Day Tour with Traditional Art Performance
– My Son Sanctuary Private Tour with Local Expert Guide
– My Son Sanctuary Early Morning Tour to Beat the Crowds
– My Son Sanctuary Afternoon Tour with Traditional Art Performance
– My Son Sanctuary Morning Tour with Thu Bon River Cruise
– My Son Sanctuary Afternoon Tour with Boat Trip on Thu Bon River
– My Son Sanctuary Sunset Tour to Avoid the Crowds
– My Son Sanctuary & Marble Mountain Tour
– My Son Sanctuary Tour with Chinese Speaking Guide
– My Son Sanctuary & Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour
– My Son & Hoi An Tour – World Heritage Site Tour
– My Son & Thanh Ha Pottery Village Tour from Hoi An
– My Son Sanctuary & Hoi An Coconut Village Tour
– My Son Sanctuary & Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour
– My Son Sanctuary & Tra Que Vegetable Village Tour
– My Son Sanctuary & Lady Buddha Tour from Da Nang
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours and transfers to My Son Sanctuary. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Photos, Videos about My Son Sanctuary Vietnam
Here are beautiful photos and videos about My Son Sanctuary in Vietnam:
