The My Son Sanctuary is a cluster of ancient Hindu temples that were constructed in the emerald hills in the Duy Xuyen District 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.
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: Book a tour to My Son Sanctuary with a tour company in Hoi An. You can find several tourist offices throughout the city centre of Hoi An to organise a trip to My Son Sanctuary. Alternatively, you can book a tour online in advance, click HERE to see what tours are available.
Option 2: 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 5am in order to be at My Son Sanctuary for sunrise. The journey takes one hour from Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary.
SEE THE MAP BELOW FOR THE LOCATION OF MY SON SANCTUARY
Entering an ancient temple at My Son Sanctuary
WHAT TO EXPECT AT MY SON SANCTUARY HOI AN
The My Son Sanctuary is open Monday – Sunday from 6:00am to 5:00pm and the entrance fee is 150,000 dong ($7).
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.
Courtesy buggy at My Son Sanctuary
Sunrise over one of the temples 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 centre 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.
My Son Sanctuary was originally constructed out of wood in the 4th century and then later destroyed by a fire 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.
Staring in awe at one of the temples at My Son Sanctuary
Drone shot at My Son Sanctuary
A tombstone inside the My Son Sanctuary complex.
HOI AN ACCOMMODATION
There is no shortage of accommodations in Hoi An, ranging from luxury resorts to budget homestays.
To look and book accommodation in Hoi An click HERE to check rates and availability.
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST IN VIETNAM
You may want to read my other blog posts listed below to help you plan your adventure travel itinerary in Vietnam.
- Top 3 things to do in Nha Trang
- Top 7 things to do in Ho Chi Minh
- Mui Ne sand dunes
- Vinh Hy Binh Tien scenic coast road
- Vietnam Itinerary – 4 Week Adventure Guide
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 🙂
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