Son My

Son My is a village area in Quảng Ngãi province, central Vietnam, known internationally as the location where the My Lai massacre occurred on March 16, 1968. The event resulted in the deaths of hundreds of unarmed civilians during the Vietnam War and is commemorated locally.

On March 16, 1968, elements of a U.S. Army unit carried out a mass killing of civilians in hamlets within Son My; subsequent investigations, trials and public attention made the event a focal point of international coverage of the Vietnam War. The site has since been preserved as a place of remembrance and historical documentation.

Son My lies in a rural coastal district of Quảng Ngãi province in central Vietnam, accessible by road from the provincial capital and other regional towns; the memorial is sited in the area of the original hamlets.

• Commemoration: The site commemorates the March 16, 1968 civilian killings known internationally as the My Lai massacre; memorial displays and a cemetery provide historical context and names of victims.

What to See#

• Son My Memorial: Son My Memorial (My Lai Memorial) - a commemorative site marking victims and events, with plaques and an area for remembrance.
• Museum and graveyard: Local museum and graveyard - displays and burials that document the events and list victims from the massacre.

• Plan a visit to Son My (My Lai) in the morning on a weekday to avoid larger tour groups and to allow time for quiet reflection at the memorial sites.
• Join a local guide or an organized historical tour from Quang Ngai to access the Son My Peace Park and the My Lai Memorial Museum - guides provide important context and survivor testimony that smaller visits can miss.
• Observe all signage and local requests regarding photography and behavior at memorial sites; visitors commonly overlook the museum in Quang Ngai city, which provides curated exhibits that supplement the on-site memorial experience.