My Son Travel Guide

  1. My Son

My Son was the religious center of the Champa Kingdom between 400 and 1300 AD and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located in Central Vietnam, the sanctuary is the country’s most significant Cham site.

The Chams were almost exclusively influenced by Indian culture and adopted Hinduism, and Sanskrit. They dedicated many temples to Shiva who was considered to be protector of Champa’s dynasties. The whole temple complex originally consisted of over 70 structures, 25 of which remain in different degrees of decay.

The monumental towers of My Son were accurately built with bricks and sandstone comprising three distinct elements; the tower base represented the world of human beings, the tower body symbolized the world of spirits, and the lotus-shaped tower head stood for the sphere between these two worlds. Unfortunately, the US forces assumed that My Son was a field headquarters of the VC and thus designated the place a free-fire zone resulting in severe bombardment and the demolition of many of the towers.

The process of ruin has continued since and the remains are in a poor condition of repair.

However, the site’s registration as a World Heritage site has invigorated interest in its preservation, notably from significant Italian resources. Despite its neglected façade, My Son is well worth a visit. Embedded in a beautiful wooded valley, far from other buildings, it is a peaceful spot.

Getting There & Away

Every travel agency and hotel in Hoi An offers incredibly low-priced excursions to My Son by bus. You can also hire a car and chauffeur in Hoi An and get to My Son in about one hour, which is a good idea should you prefer to arrive there before the tour bus. The nearest airport is found in Danang.

Hoi An attractions:

  • The historic temple site: this cultural site dates back centuries and was home to the Cham tribes people. The site was deeply influenced by Indian culture and although it now lies in ruins, the Hindu influences are still clear.