DISCOVER THE MY SON SANCTUARY IN VIETNAM!
My Son Sanctuary is a cluster of ancient Hindu temples that were constructed in the emerald hills in the Duy Xuyen District, Hoi An between the 4th and the 14th century.
The abandoned temples of My Son Sanctuary is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is the most popular attraction in the region that draws in thousands of visitors every year.
I have put together this complete guide of My Son Sanctuary including how to get there, how much it costs and what to expect when you arrive to My Son Sanctuary.
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WHERE IS THE MY SON SANCTUARY & HOW TO GET THERE
The My Son Sanctuary is located 40km west of Hoi An, Vietnam.
There are two options for getting to My Son Sanctuary:
Option 1: MY SON SANCTUARY TOUR
The My Son Sanctuary Day Tour is the most top-rated tour with great reviews and thousands of bookings.
This tour covers the highlights of My Son Sanctuary UNESCO site plus a visit to Kim Bong Carpentry Village and a light lunch on a boat cruise down the river ending at Nguyen Hoang Pier.
All this for just $10 USD.
Book Now ∼ My Son Sanctuary Day Tour
Option 2: DIY
If you wish to visit My Son Sanctuary DIY you can rent a scooter from Hoi An for just $5 a day.
I picked up a rental scooter from ‘Hoi An motorbike tours & rentals’ the day before heading to My Son Sanctuary. I left Hoi An at 5 am in order to be at My Son Sanctuary for sunrise.
The journey takes one hour from Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary.
PIN LOCATION OF MY SON SANCTUARY
Entering a temple at My Son Sanctuary
WHAT TO EXPECT AT MY SON SANCTUARY HOI AN
The My Son Sanctuary is open Monday to Sunday from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm and the entrance fee is 150,000 VND.
As you enter the gates to My Son Sanctuary there is a courtesy buggy that will transport you from the main gate of the park to the start of the walking trail.
The trail at My Son Sanctuary is very easy to navigate and it will lead you through the abandoned complex of the magnificent Hindu ruins. There are a total of 71 temple structures that are impressively older than the Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia.
Book Now ∼ My Son Sanctuary Day Tour
Courtesy buggy at My Son Sanctuary
Sunrise at My Son Sanctuary
One of the 71 temple structures at My Son Sanctuary
MY SON SANCTUARY HISTORY
The words ‘My Son’ means ‘beautiful mountain’ in Vietnamese. The My Son Sanctuary was used by the Champa civilization as a political center and a royal burial ground. The temples were devoted to the Hindu gods and goddesses, especially Shiva, who was considered the protector of the Champa’s kings.
Hidden Money Belt: I never go on a trip without one! The best thing is they are always out of sight, hidden beneath your clothing. With RFID blocking, they are perfectly designed to keep your credit cards, cash and other valuables safe when you’re out adventuring!
My Son Sanctuary was originally constructed out of wood in the 4th century and then later destroyed by a fire in which the cause is still unknown. The complex was rebuilt by the subsequent kings out of red brick and limestone.
Unfortunately, during the most recent war, the Americans bombed the My Son Sanctuary region knowing that the Viet Cong was using it as a hiding place. Thankfully, the majority of the temples survived the bombings and parts of the ruins have been restored.
The temples at My Son Sanctuary
Drone shot at My Son Sanctuary
My Son Sanctuary complex.
WHERE TO STAY IN HOI AN
Hoi An has hundreds of accommodations to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay near My Son Sanctuary to suit budget backpackers, luxury travelers. and everyone in between.
See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:
LUXURY: ANANTARA RESORT
Check prices on Agoda | Check prices on Booking.com
MID RANGE: HA AN HOTEL
Check prices on Agoda | Check prices on Booking.com
BUDGET: HAPPY MONKEY HOSTEL
Check prices on Agoda | Check prices on Booking.com
FOR ALL OTHER PLACES TO STAY NEAR MY SON SANCTUARY, SEARCH ON AGODA OR SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM
BEST VIETNAM TOURS
AIRBNB NEAR MY SON SANCTUARY
Another option for accommodation near My Son Sanctuary is to stay at an Airbnb, which generally has some great deals in Hoi An.
WANT TO SAVE $$$ ON AIRBNB? GET MY AIRBNB MONEY SAVING GUIDE
LONELY PLANET – VIETNAM
One of the best books to take on your trip is the Lonely Planet Vietnam Travel Guide!
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MORE VIETNAM TRAVEL GUIDES
Vietnam Travel Guide: 4 Week Vietnam Itinerary
Ho Chi Minh City Guide: 7 Things To Do In Ho Chi Minh
Nha Trang Travel Guide: 3 Things To Do In Nha Trang
Hoi An Travel Guide: 4 Things To Do In Hoi An
Ninh Binh Travel Guide: 3 Things To Do In Ninh Binh
Da Nang Travel Guide: Golden Bridge Ba Na Hills
Cam Ranh Travel Guide: Things To Do In Cam Ranh
Ha Giang Travel Guide: 3 Day Ha Giang Loop Adventure
JOIN MY FACEBOOK TRAVEL TRIBE
Do you have any questions about My Son Sanctuary?
Join my Facebook Travel Tribe and send a message at any time for a quick response!
WHAT TO PACK FOR VIETNAM
Everyday Backpack: One of the best backpacks on the market! The Nomatic 20L Backpack is perfect for on the go adventures. Featuring multiple storage spaces for valuables, drink bottles, chargers, notebooks and more. This sleek backpack was designed for you.
Universal Power Adapter: Don’t leave home without one! I highly recommend getting this Universal Power Adapter so that you are able to charge all of your electronics when you’re on the road. Compatible in Asia, UK, Europe, Africa, USA, SA and Australia.
Hidden Money Belt: I never go on a trip without one! The best thing is they are always out of sight, hidden beneath your clothing. With RFID blocking, they are perfectly designed to keep your credit cards, cash and other valuables safe when you’re out adventuring!
Waterproof Phone Case: A waterproof phone case is a must-have item! This universal case will keep your phone safe from water damage, sand and scratches during your adventures. Suitable for all smartphone models.
Portable Charger: One of the best portable chargers on the market! The Anker Power Bank keeps your phone and accessories charged on those longer adventures. Featuring 2 USB charging ports, rechargeable battery, works with iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Oppo and Android.
Microfibre Travel Towel: To pack a towel or not to pack a towel? A standard bathroom towel can take up a lot of space in your travel bag. Get your hands on a quick-dry Microfibre Travel Towel which is perfect for the beach, backpacking, camping and general traveling.
Rain Jacket: A light-weight rain jacket is an absolute must when traveling! North Face waterproof rain jackets come in both men and women sizes, featuring a breathable mesh lining and adjustable hood that can be tucked away inside the collar.
Kindle: The best alternative for books! Kindle e-readers are perfect for long haul flights, reading on the beach or a quiet evening away from the bars. Kindle’s are waterproof with rechargeable batteries and adjustable light settings to suit indoor/outdoor conditions.
Packing Cubes: My favorite item in my backpack! Perfect for organizing your shirts, pants, jackets, socks, underwear and more. This 5 Set Packing Cubes makes packing easier and more efficient, adding extra space in your bag for your next trip.
Activated Charcoal Tablets: Want to avoid food poisoning? Most of us have been a victim of travelers diarrhea from eating street food. Organic Activated Charcoal Tablets are fast-acting and will rid your system of the bad bacteria that causes stomach upset.
MY CAMERA GEAR
Everyday Camera: The most affordable mirrorless camera on the market! I personally use the Sony A7ii Mirrorless Camera on all of my adventures. It’s compact, lightweight and super easy to use for all levels of photography. A 28-70mm Sony lens is also included.
Drone Camera: Take your photography to new heights! The DJI Mavic Pro 2 Drone is at the top of the game when it comes to high-quality images and video, easy to control functions and traveler-friendly capabilities. I guarantee you won’t regret purchasing one.
GoPro Hero 8: One of the most popular cameras on the planet! I love using the GoPro Hero 8 for all of my underwater shots and fast-paced adventures. The GoPro Hero 8 captures the best moments with its wide range of functions that are very simple to use!
Camera Bag: My favorite camera bag I have ever owned! The Lowepro Protactic 450 AW II Camera Bag features a waterproof rain cover, drink bottle holder, padded compartments for cameras, drones, lenses, accessories and it also has a laptop pocket.
Selfie Stick: Everyone loves a good selfie, right!? The Sandmarc Metal Edition Selfie Stick is sleek, stylish and can extend to 1.2m. I find it much easier to take photos and videos with the GoPro when it is mounted to the Sandmarc Selfie Stick!
Camera Tripod: The Joby GorillaPod is suitable for all cameras. This tripod is easy to use and perfect for setting up a time-lapse video or even using it as a selfie stick. The legs are flexible so you can wrap it around a tree or a pole to get creative with your shot.
GoPro Dome: Have you ever wanted to capture those under/over water shots with the GoPro? This epic underwater GoPro dome housing is the best camera accessory to have to create the perfect 50/50 shot. I use mine every time I am in the ocean!
Memory Card: The best thing about SanDisk Extreme Pro is that it delivers maximum speed for images and videos. Having 64GB of storage means that you can store hundreds of files on this SD card for 2-3 days and not have to worry about running out of space.
External Hard Drive: As a photographer, my images and video files take up a lot of space on my MacBook so I use the WD Elements External Hard Drive to store everything. With 4TB worth of storage space, this is more than enough for 1 years worth of content.
ONLINE ENGLISH TEACHING
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MY SHOP
Before you go from this My Son Sanctuary post, don’t forget to check out My Online Shop!
I’ve got a wide range of digital products for sale and I’m sure you’ll find something that will come in handy during your travels!
SEE MORE → MY SHOP
FINAL THOUGHTS OF MY SON SANCTUARY
I hope you find this blog post useful and if you have any further questions about the My Son Sanctuary please drop me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Happy Adventuring!
PIN IT FOR LATER
Hi Jonny,
Your writings on Vietnam are very informative. My husband and I are planning a trip there in November. A bit of dilemma regarding Trang an and Tam Coc. Which would you suggest?
Thanks,
Sunayana
Author
Awesome, you’re going to love it. I would suggest Tam Coc 🙂