My Son — Attraction in Quảng Nam Province

Review & Travel Guide to My Son Sanctuary – A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Quang Nam, Vietnam

General Introduction: My Son Sanctuary is an ancient complex of Champa temples nestled in a narrow valley, located about 40 km from Hoi An and 70 km from Da Nang. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1999, My Son is a must-visit destination for history lovers and those fascinated by ancient architecture and culture

Entrance Fees and Costs Item Price (VND) Notes Adult ticket (Vietnamese & foreign) 150,000 Includes entrance fee and museum access Student ticket 100,000 Must present a valid student ID Children under 10 Free Electric shuttle (to temple area) Free Included in the ticket price

Local tour guide 300,000 – 500,000 Negotiable or can split / group cost in a shared group

💡 Money-saving tip: Go in a group to share the cost of hiring a guide, or use the free audio guide in the museum.

How to Get to My Son ✅ From Da Nang / Hoi An:

Motorbike rental: Around 120,000 – 150,000 VND/day. Travel time: 1.5 – 2 hours.

Taxi / Grab: Approximately 500,000 – 800,000 VND round trip.

Join-in tour: From 400,000 – 700,000 VND/person, usually includes transportation, entrance ticket, and tour guide.

✅ Road conditions:

Scenic countryside views.

Note: Some winding roads – caution is advised if riding a motorbike

Service Review at My Son Sanctuary ✅ Pros:

Well-preserved: Main temple clusters are clearly labeled and maintained.

Knowledgeable guides: Many speak good English and provide historical context.

Convenient shuttle: Easy access from entrance to the temple area.

Modern museum: Air-conditioned, informative exhibits and displays.

❌ Cons:

Limited food options: Only a few small stalls with basic drinks and snacks.

Few shaded rest spots: Hot and sunny during summer, limited places to rest.

No personal audio guide system: Not yet widely available for self-guided tours

5.Conclusion: Is My Son Worth Visiting?Where to Eat Near My Son

Ba Be My Son Eatery: Small local spot near the gate. Serves dishes like Mi Quang noodles, beef noodle soup, chicken rice – priced from 40,000 – 70,000 VND.

My Son View Café: Open-air café offering sugarcane juice, coffee, and bottled water.

👉 Tip: Bring your own water bottle, sun hat, and sunscreen if visiting during hot months (April – August).

6.Travel Tips for Visiting My Son

Best time to visit: Early morning (7:30 – 9:00 AM) or late afternoon (after 3 PM) to avoid harsh sunlight.

Dress code: Wear comfortable, respectful clothing and walking shoes.

What to bring: Hat, sunscreen, water, camera or phone with full battery.

Respect the site: Do not touch or climb on ancient structures. Conclusion: Is My Son Worth Visiting? Category Rating (⭐ out of 5) Scenery & Architecture ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5) Services & Organization ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.0) Pricing & Cost Value ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5) Best for History buffs, photographers,...

Do you know ??? If Hoi An enchants you by colorful lanterns along downtown streets by night, charming red towers in My Son surely amazes you in the sunset.

Location

If Hoi An enchants you by colorful lanterns along downtown streets by night, charming red towers in My Son surely amazes you in the sunset. My Son Sanctuary is located in My Son village, Duy Tan commune, Duy Xuyen district, 30km west of Tra Kieu (the ancient capital of Cham people) and 69km south-west of Da Nang city.

History

Nestling in a narrow valley surrounded by mountains, this temple, tower complex is a masterpiece of ancient Cham architecture.

My Son consists of 70 architectural works ranging from small to great size. It used to be holly land of Cham people from the 4th to 13th century. In the 4th century, in the King Bhadravarman’s time, after the construction of Tra Kieu, the religious center of Cham kingdom was set in My Son to welcome royal members, aristocrats and host important religious rituals. Continually developing through nearly nine centuries, My Son witnessed the glorious, prosperous as well as declining time of Champa kingdom.

The first temple was built from wood in the 4th century to worship the Saint Siva Bhadravarman, whose name is the combination King Bhadravarman at that time and Saint Siva. However, the wooden temple was totally damaged because of a fire in the 6th century. In later years, the Cham Kings continued to build more new temples and towers to worship the God, Saints and show their great power. By late 13th century, Champa kingdom was attacked by neighbor countries like Vietnam, Chinese, and Khmer and had to move the capital to the south in Binh Thuan province. Since then, My Son was decommissioned and no tower was built onsite anymore.

Be forgotten for hundreds of years, in 1898, this holly land was explored by a French scholar, and resorted from 1937 to 1944 by Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient. Unfortunately, this complex was badly destroyed by American bombs in the war, and only 20 out of 32 remnants still keep their original appearance today.

Architecture

According to many French, Poland and Vietnamese researchers, My Son sanctuary architecture was affected by Arabian, Malaysian, Indonesian, especially Indian culture, and it is the convergence of different styles such as ancient style in the 7th-8th centuries, Hoa Lai style in 8th-9th century, Dong Duong style in the mid of 9th century, My Son- Binh Dinh style. All of the towers were built from red bricks and sandstone. Today, the brick making and construction remain a secret among many archeologists and tourists also.

Though there are not many remnants left, My Son holly land still boasts the rich culture and arts of ancient Champa kingdom in glorious time. Because of those priceless values, it was honorably recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1999, and attracts millions of tourists each...

My Son Hindu Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a great sample of the ancient Champa civilization located in the southern part of Vietnam. It was an independent state from around the 2nd to the 17th century, at which time it was occupied by Vietnam. The impressive Hindu-themed ruins feature many beautiful stone sculptures, temples and towers in tropical jungle surroundings.

HOI AN My Son Sanctuary in Hoi An UNESCO World Heritage Site near Hoi An Hotels Flights   Flight + Hotel Things To Do My Son Hindu Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a great sample of the ancient Champa civilization located in the southern part of Vietnam. It was an independent state from around the 2nd to the 17th century, at which time it was occupied by Vietnam. The impressive Hindu-themed ruins feature many beautiful stone sculptures, temples and towers in tropical jungle surroundings.  Interested in this tour? Book it here. Full-Day City & My Son Sanctuary Tour Duration 7h 30m USD 80 per traveler My Son was also a political centre and a royal burial ground and the complex consists of more than 70 structures devoted to Hindu gods and goddesses and the most noticeable one, Shiva, was considered the protector of the Champa’s kings. Their skilful use of red bricks and sandstone is remarkable. Like many historic sites around the world, My Son was destroyed by time and wars and after lying neglected for a long time it was rediscovered and renovated by the French in 1898. Sadly the most recent war did great damage to the complex as the Americans bombed this area knowing that the Viet Cong used it as a hiding place, mistakenly thinking that the enemy would not touch a holy site. However, the majority of the central complex managed to survive the bombs and parts of the ruins have now been rebuilt. Overall, this Hindu sanctuary reminds visitors of other similar sites in Southeast Asia including the great Angkor Wat in Cambodia. A must-visit for those who appreciate history. Opening Hours: All year round. The best time to visit is early in the morning before it gets too hot and when it is not too busy Location: In a small valley in Duy Tan Commune, Duy Xuyen District of Quang Nam Province (about 70km southwest of Danang and 40km...