My Son Sanctuary Travel Guide – World Heritage Site in Vietnam

#DaNangMainAttractions, HoiAnMainAttractions

My Son Sanctuary is a complex of ancient Hindu temples and ruins, a Unesco world heritage site, and a popular tourist attraction in Da Nang/Hoi An. It served as the holy land for Cham kings to worship Shiva God, from the 4th to 13rd centuries. 71 buildings ever existed here, but now only 20 of which survive. Nobody knows exactly how the people constructed them before. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company will tell everything which visitors need to know about My Son Sanctuary, Vietnam.

You may also like: Hoi An Ancient Town, Complex of Hue Monuments, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Made by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD and his team

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 on Map

History of My Son Sanctuary in Vietnam

In the 4th century, under the reign of Bhadravarman I – the king of Champa kingdom, the first temple was built in My Son Sanctuary, to worship Shiva God (God of Destruction or the Destroyer in Hinduism). This place (a valley) is holy because it’s at the foot of the Sacred Mountain which represents Himalaya Mountain, and has a river running through it and then flows into the Sacred River which represents Ganges River (today Thu Bon River).

The capital city of Champa kingdom, Simhapura (‘City of Lions), is not far away from My Son Sanctuary. So, Cham kings also designated it to be their hiding place when it’s an emergency capital (because My Son is tightly surrounded by mountains).

In the mid-6th century, the first temple at My Son Sanctuary was burnt. After that, different dynasties of Champa kingdom constructed lots of Shiva temples here. The main materials to build them are bricks (made of red clay) and sandstone.

After 13rd century, My Son Sanctuary was abandoned. The historical event leading to this change is the marriage between Vietnamese princess Huyen Tran and Champa king Che Man or Simhavarman III in 1306. The area where My Son is situated, was used to be a wedding present from Che Man king. For that reason, Cham people left My Son’s temples in forests and never went there to visit.

In 1885, My Son Sanctuary was found by a party of French men, by mistake. However, until 10 years later, leading archaeologists, architects, and historians from the French School of the Far East, came to this hidden Hindu site to research. They recorded 71 buildings at that time, then classified them into groups and used Latin letters to name them (from A to N). Within each group, constructions are tagged by both letter and number (such as A1, B2). Additionally, the name of the Vietnamese village close to the sanctuary (My Son village) was used to name it. French people paved the way to save and preserve My Son’s cultural heritage.

In 1904, the first documents about My Son Sanctuary were published by French, and then the world knew it better.

During the colonial period, the French brought many of the finest sculptures from My Son to Da Nang, to store in the Cham Museum there. This solution was to protect them from the hand of thefts and robberies. Due to being well-kept in the forests, My Son was an unsafe place at that time.

In the 1970s, many temples at My Son collapsed or were highly damaged by bombings dropped by the American air forces. The main reason is that from the American side, Vietcong communists hide inside the surrounding hills and mountains.

A turning point in the history of My Son Sanctuary happened in 1999 when Unesco declared it to be a world heritage site. International experts believed that My Son was the best remains of Champa kingdom, and one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia.

From 2020 to 2022, within the partnership between Vietnam and India governments, Indian masters restored 3 groups of temples (Group H, Group K, and Group A). Other restoration and excavation projects will be launched soon.

Best Time to Visit My Son Sanctuary

Main article: Best Time to Visit My Son Vietnam

My Son Sanctuary is within the Da Nang/Hoi An area, so during the year, there are two distinct seasons here: the dry season (February to end of August) and the wet season (September to January).

In the dry season, it’s hot in My Son Sanctuary, especially in the midday. Therefore, visitors should check the weather forecast in advance, and choose the coolest days to go (1/2 day needed to explore My Son). To avoid strong heat in midday, sunrise to early morning or late afternoon to sunset are the best times. Please don’t forget to bring the suncream, sun glasses, hat/cap/umbrella, and some bottles of water to drink.

See photos about My Son in early morning/sunrise: https://hoiandaytrip.com/my-son-sanctuary-in-sunrise
See photos about My Son in late afternoon/sunset: https://hoiandaytrip.com/my-son-sanctuary-in-sunset

In the rainy season, it’s often rainy and wet in My Son Sanctuary. Therefore, the best times to visit this place are when it rains little or no rain. Checking the weather forecast is always necessary. Remember bringing umbrella/rain poncho/rain jacket, waterproof shoes or sandals. It’s still possible to expect sunny days in this period, but not so many.

Between October and December, the potential to see heavy rains and typhoons will be high. In a few days, My Son valley will be flooded because the river water rises high. If serious, it’s closed.

See photos about My Son in the rain: https://hoiandaytrip.com/my-son-sanctuary-in-the-rain

Dress Code for My Son Sanctuary

Visitors need to wear respectively in My Son Sanctuary. This place is to worship the gods and holy for Cham people who have lived in the area for a very long time.

In particular, visitors need to wear shirts which cover armpits, navel and breast. About the pants, it’s needed to cover the lower knees. Clothings made of see-through fabric are not respectful in local culture.

If forget or don’t know this dress code, visitors can buy long pieces of cloth to cover, or buy long pants or shirts to wear at shops in My Son Sanctuary.

Although checking tourist’s (clothes) isn’t seen in My Son Sanctuary, having a ‘respectful’ outfit expresses our (respect) to the gods and to locals. In Da Nang/Hoi An/Hue, if don’t follow these rules, visitors are not allowed to walk in temples, pagodas, and imperial palaces/tombs.

Things to See & Do in My Son Sanctuary in Vietnam

Visit the My Son Museum

The My Son Museum is the first place to visit in My Son Sanctuary. It’s just a short walk from the main entrance. Before seeing the exhibitions, visitors can take some pictures with big words ‘My Son’ to save the memory of traveling with friends or family. This museum has two exhibitions: one giving information and explanation about architecture, art, and language at temples, and the other one allowing to know better about decorative motifs, building techniques, or religious/cultural/historic values. So, visitors can learn about different aspects of My Son Sanctuary once going to the temples. See full information & details

Sightsee Ancient Cham Towers & Temples

Main article: Temples in My Son Sanctuary, Vietnam

My Son Sanctuary has 71 buildings (or even more) and 20 of which are still standing today. The best preserved constructions are inside Group B-C-D that is near the public stage (traditional performance house). It has two Shiva temples (Temple B1, Temple C1), and each one has a gateway and an assembly hall in the front. Inside two assembly halls (or ‘long houses’), sculptures and even bombs from wartime are exhibited. Around these temples, there’re towers still remaining on their roof, worshipping objects Linga and Yoni, memorial stones carved with old Sankrit inscriptions. Of course, many photo opportunities are here.

Besides Group B-C-D, visitors can see Group A, Group G, Group E and F, Temple H, Temple K, and other ruins around My Son valley.

To build the temples at My Son, Cham people used a special set of techniques. Nowadays, this is still not fully discovered yet by historians. The ‘Cham bricks’ are made of red clay (extracted in villages outside My Son valley) and their weight is smaller than the ones we often use to build our houses. Between the bricks, visitors can realize that there is no gap. Rain water will run over their surface, and the plants can’t grow over there too.

To connect the bricks, local people say that Cham people may use a special mixture between brick’s powder, fresh water, and resin tree’s milk. This way has been used in restoration works at My Son today, as the best method we can know.

Watch Cham Traditional Art Performances

Full details: My Son Sanctuary’s Show

Everyday, at the Public stage (near Group B-C-D or Temple H), a series of performances from Cham artists is available to see. It’s free and lasts 15 mins. Show times are 10 AM, 10:45 AM, 2 PM, and 3:30 PM (can be earlier/later, depending on the weather or number of visitors on the day). We recommend getting there at least 10 mins earlier, to have the seats close to the stage or at least, a chair to sit down on.

In the first performance, visitors will see Cham girls wearing their traditional dress, and showing a ceremonial dance. They carry pots of water to God’s temple. In the next one, a male artist displays his high skills in blowing the long flute. The audience just says wow while watching him. The last performance is about Apsara dancers who are believed to be beautiful and to have flexible dancings. At Temple G, at 9:15 AM and 2:15 PM, a mini show is also performed. After everything comes to an end, visitors can come to the dancers and take some photos with them.

Cham Traditional Weaving

On the side of the walking trail between Temple K and Temple E-F, visitors will see a small hut showing beautiful and colorful hand-woven embroideries. All of them are made by a Cham lady who often stays here and works with the loom as well as introduce the tradition and sell her products. She wasn’t born in the area, but comes from Phan Rang city, home to the largest Cham communities.

Trek in My Son Sanctuary’s Forests

There are also other trekking trails to My Son’s temples, besides the main route from the main entrance. These hidden trails go through My Son Nature Reserve, home to 238 plant species and 37 mammals (such as monkeys, cats,…). If like, visitors must book a local guide who lives in the area, to know the directions and to be safe throughout the trek.

Tips to Visit My Son Sanctuary

– In the dry season, from February to the end of August, visitors should bring sun cream, sun glasses, hat/cap or umbrella, insect repellent, and bottles of water.

– In the rainy season, from September to January, visitors should bring rain poncho/jacket or umbrella, sandals or waterproof shoes. Between October and early January, flooding may occur when it rains heavily. Remember to check the weather forest once go!

– Once again, visitors must wear long pants and shirts to visit My Son Sanctuary.

– Visitors should go with a local guide who is knowledgeable or at least informative in My Son Sanctuary. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) to make a reservation.

– Audio guide is available at My Son Sanctuary. It’s suitable for self-guided travelers or those who don’t go with a guide. Available languages are English, French, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese. To use, visitors need to download a mobile app and then scan QR code at each place to learn about it.

– Visitors need to make sure that they have at least 1/2 day for the trip to My Son Sanctuary. If do not have enough time, we recommend coming to Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang to see fine sculptures at My Son, and learn about Cham people and Champa.

– Vietnamese visitors must bring ID card to verify, and have a discount for My Son entrance ticket.

– My Son Sanctuary doesn’t open at night. Visitors must finish the visit before it becomes dark. Those who plan to see the sunset here, should take a note.

– It’s better to visit My Son Sanctuary with a local guide. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp) to book.

My Son Sanctuary with Kids

My Son Sanctuary is not only a heritage, but also a nature reserve with trekking trails. Kids can enjoy walking in the forest or across streams, seeing exotic plants, flowers or animals (more lively during rainy season), watch performances of Cham artists, taking pictures at temples, getting surprised about bomb holes, and learn about new cultures a bit. Thus, My Son is suitable for families with kid(s). See more information & details

How to Get to My Son Sanctuary Vietnam

My Son Sanctuary is 40km away from Hoi An (west) and 45km away from Da Nang (southwest). It’s in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province.

Visitors often get to My Son Sanctuary by car/minivan and book a roundtrip.Travel time will be around 1 hour each way (if the traffic is busy, it’s longer). Early morning transfer (departing before 7-7:30 am) is a little bit more expensive. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) to book a private transfer by car/minivan to My Son Holy Land.

Reaching to My Son Sanctuary by motorbike is also popular. Visitors will pay from 100,000 to 200,000 VND for one day motorbike rental in Da Nang/Hoi An. From Hoi An, there are two routes to go: one in the north of the Thu Bon River, and one in the south of the Thu Bon River. My Son is a world heritage site and a famous tourist attraction, so many signs show the right direction to it along the above routes. Bike parking is near the entrance, with a fee of 5,000-10,000 VND/bike/time. See more information & details

Going to My Son Sanctuary by bicycle, jeep, and boat is less popular. To better discover rural areas between cities and the sanctuary, a local guide/cyclist or a tour is needed to book. Jeep tours/transfers must be booked via local tour companies. The boat trip on Thu Bon River often is in late afternoon (to see sunset), from My Son to get back to Hoi An. See more information & details

How to Get around My Son Sanctuary

Temples in My Son Sanctuary are far away from the main entrance (distance is about 3 kilometers). To get there, visitors firstly need to walk to the buggy station to have a transfer to shorten the walking distance. After ticket checking, go straight, walk past the My Son Museum and then walk to the other side of the bridge to see the buggy station. Transfer service at My Son is free of charge.

At the station, follow the queue to use the transfer service by the electric buggy car. Total distance is 2km, so the drive is around 10 mins. One car can carry 12-13 people maximum. After getting off, visitors need to walk for about 1km to see the largest group of temples (Group BCD) and the performing theatre.

Some visitors choose to skip the buggy transfer to walk to temples. In this case, there is only one route to choose from: the car road. Our advice is to observe carefully to avoid cars, especially in the morning when lots of tourists come.

If want to see all the temples, the total walking distance will be 2km, from the inner buggy station. Trails going from one temple to the other are paved, but quite slippery when it’s rainy. Along them, there are tall trees, providing good shade for visitors in the dry season. Chairs are also available to sit down and rest for a while.

From the station where visitors are dropped off, visitors can hire a bicycle to go to the temples. The fee is 30,000 VND/bike/time. Each bike has a bucket to put the bags in and a seat for 1 more person. When finish sightseeing, please bring the bike back to the same place. From here, once again, take the buggy car to go back to the main entrance and the parking lots.

Trekking in My Son Sanctuary is a favourite for many travelers. Along the trails, it’s possible to see forests, flowers, and animals as well as enjoy fresh air. This is a great chance to escape from the hustle and bustle and to be closer to nature. Absolutely, one of the reasons to make My Son Sanctuary worth visiting.

If travel with senior citizens who can’t walk for a long distance, visitors should let buggy drivers know to take them to the performing stage. Here, they can watch a show, and go to the best preserved temples in a distance of 300 meters.

Itinerary to Visit the Temples in My Son Sanctuary

Visitors can choose one of this itineraries to visit temples in My Son Sanctuary:

– Itinerary 1: The buggy car station – Group K – Group E, F – Group G – Group A – Group B,C,D – Traditional art performance house – Group H – The buggy car station

– Itinerary 2: The buggy car station – Group H – Traditional art performance house – Group B,C,D – Group A – Group G – Group E,F – Group K – The buggy car station

– Itinerary 3 (only highlights): The buggy car station – Traditional art performance house – Group B,C,D – Group A – Group G – The buggy car station

More details in My Son Sanctuary Self Guided Tour

Food, Drink & Restaurants in My Son Sanctuary

There are a couple of restaurants and shops in My Son Sanctuary, to buy food and drink. Around the entrance/ticket counters, or inside the sanctuary, it’s possible to see them.

About drinks, visitors can see cold bottles of fresh water, soft drinks, local beers (like Huda, Larue), coffee (canned coffee or machine coffee or Vietnamese traditional coffee), juices, and smoothies. In places where people sell souvenirs, all of what they have is in the fridge. In restaurants, more options can be seen. The price of a bottle of water is 20,000 VND, and the price for a soft drink or a beer is 30,000 VND.

About food, visitors can see both Vietnamese food and western food (but Vietnamese food is much better). The dishes are banh mi sandwich, mi quang noodles, banh xeo pancakes, goi cuon fresh spring rolls,…We recommend trying Mi Quang noodles with chicken (mi quang ga) because the chicken in the area tastes good (as reviewed by locals). The price is 35,000-50,000 VND/bowl.

Between Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary, visitors can stop and eat Mi Quang noodles at ‘Mi Quang My Son’ restaurant (Duy Chau commune, Duy Xuyen district) or ‘Mi Quang Tieng Quy’ restaurant (Duy Chau commune, Duy Xuyen district).

Fun Facts about My Son Sanctuary

– The name Mỹ Sơn often is thought to be ‘my son’ if write it without punctuation marks.

– The Angkor Wat of Vietnam is the nickname of My Son Sanctuary called by travelers because these places have a similar historic story.

– Bombo holes and even bombs (dead) can still be seen in My Son Sanctuary today.

– My Son Sanctuary lies on the same axis with Simhapuri capital city (present-day Tra Kieu) and Champapura city (present-day Hoi An). This was realized by Mr Tran Quoc Vuong (historians) when he stood on the top of the hill of Marian Shrine of the Lady of Tra Kieu.

– My Son Sanctuary is home to many Vietnam’s national treasures, including EMukhalinga (Linga with king’s head) preserved in the My Son Museum, pedestal of Temple A10 at Group A, and the ones inside Museum of Cham Sculpture (Da Nang), like pedestal of Temple E1, Shiva statue of Temple C1,…

Is My Son Sanctuary is Worth Visiting?

Full detail: Is My Son Sanctuary Worth Visiting?

There are many reasons to visit My Son Sanctuary, such as ancient temples and ruins embraced by forests (great to see, photograph and learn about history), its importance in history of the region, traditional performances of Cham boys and girls, Unesco world heritage site title, fine sculptures and carvings, secret building techniques, fresh air, not expensive,…

On the other hand, there are also many reasons to NOT visit My Son Sanctuary. Visitors will be hot in the summer, and will see heavy rains and typhoons in the wet season. All make the trip not so enjoyable. Some travelers also think that My Son is too small, compared to Angkor Wat or Pagan, and they feel disappointed when coming.

In conclusion, My Son Sanctuary is totally worth visiting thanks to its own exceptional values, experiences and good time tourists will have.

Q&A about My Son Sanctuary

– Where is My Son Sanctuary located? Answer: Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province, 30-40 km away from Da Nang & Hoi An

– How long does it take to visit My Son Sanctuary? Answer: 2 hours

– How old is My Son Sanctuary? Answer: The oldest temple at My Son is built in 4th century, 1,600 years ago.

– When was My Son Sanctuary built? Answer: Temples at My Son Sanctuary are built from 4th to 13rd centuries.

– How big is My Son Sanctuary? Answer: My Son Sanctuary world heritage has an area of 142 hectares. Its buffer zone is 920 hectares.

– My Son Sanctuary in Chinese: 美山聖地

– How far is My Son Sanctuary from Hoi An? Answer: The distance from Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary is some 30 kilometers (approx 18,64 miles).

– How far is it from Da Nang to My Son Sanctuary? Answer: The distance from Da Nang to My Son Sanctuary is about 40 kilometers (approx 24,85 miles).

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 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 & 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 & Hoi An Coconut Village Tour

– My Son, Pottery Village & Coconut Village Tour from Hoi An

– My Son & Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour

– 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!