tinerary
My Son Sanctuary Tour From Hoi An: My Son Sanctuary is situated in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province, about 69 km from Da Nang City and 20 km from Tra Kieu ancient capital. This is an architectural ensemble of unique tower-temples and many beautiful stone sculptures in tropical jungle surroundings. My Son Sanctuary supposedly is the religion center and culture of the Champa Ancient Kindom.
Small Group My Son Sanctuary Tour From Hoi An
- At 7.20 am – 7:30 am: Our car and guide will pick you up at your hotel in Hoi An enter and transfer to My Son Sanctuary. This is the best time of the day to see the sunrise and the beauty of My Son.
- At about 8:00 am – 11:30 am: Start to visit My Son Sanctuary – a beautiful valley surrounded by jungle and mountains
- It comprises of more than 70 towers including small, normal and large towers in a valley, surrounded by 2 mountain ranges.
- In My Son Holy Land, the towers and tombs have been dated from VII century to XIV century, but archaeological findings show us that the Cham kings were buried here since IV century.
- Relics and statues at the museum will tell you more about the kings of Champa Kingdom, the life of their people and their religion.
- While you discover the area, the guide will explain the history of the Champa Kingdom that ruled for centuries in Vietnam.
- You will have a chance enjoy the rite, see the traditional dance performance restored by local government at 9:30 am – 10:30 am
- At about 11:30 am – 12.30 pm: After visiting the wonders of My Son Sanctuary, we will get a boat and travel up the Thu Bon river by motorized boat to visit the Kim Bong carpentry village.
- At 12:30 pm – 13:00 pm: Have Lunch at a local restaurant.
- Bus takes you back to hotel. End of the tour.
The Ultimate Guide To My Son Sanctuary
If you want to have an ideal day excursion from Hoi An then My Son Sanctuary is the best place. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by a dramatic rainforest. It dates back to the 4th and 13th centuries CE. Cham culture was a distinct civilization that evolved on the coast of modern Vietnam. It also has spiritual roots in Indian Hinduism.
( My Son Tour)
You can learn about the Champa Kingdom by exploring the 1600 years old ruins of the civilization. There are mesmerizing ruins of almost 70 structures that belonged to various deities such as Vishnu, Krishna, and Shiva. These places got destroyed due to the bombing during the Vietnam war.
Is My Son Sanctuary worth visiting?
My Son Sanctuary is a fascinating UNESCO world heritage site. Every visitor of Da Nang or Hoi An should visit the sanctuary. There are thousand years old Hindu structure ruins. Some of their intricate designs made in Red bricks and sandstone are still available to observe.
These ruins have stunning stone sculptures, temples, and towers in different parts of the tropical forest. These 70 structures were used as the royal burial ground and political center.
How to Get to My Son Sanctuary
Visitors can explore My Son Sanctuary from Hoi An or Da Nang. It is a wonderful place to visit with various activities to enjoy. Explore Vietnam offers a very well-planned trip to the sanctuary area. It is a very exciting and well-planned tour. The organized tour starts from the hotel pick up to different areas and activities. It is a very convenient experience.
(My Son Sunrise Tour)
Things to do in My Son Sanctuary
Sanctuary is made up of several towers, sub-towers, and a major structure named Kalan. The structures have various appearances, and each one has a special significance related to Champa culture and religion. The Statue of Siva God or a set of Linga are placed in the main temples. Lord Siva was considered the supreme guardian of the Champa family kings. Various shrines and worshipping places were used for sacrifices and ceremonies. Apart from exploring the area, there are many interesting things to do such as:
- Traditional Dance Show
Every morning from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, a traditional dance show is organized that visitors group can enjoy. It starts before the first group of visitors comes to the ruins area.
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- My Son Sanctuary Museum
There is a small outdoor museum that displays Hindu gods’ sculptures, wall posters explaining the war history, and two US missile casings. These missile casings were found in 1988 and 2007. If you are not with a guide, then you can read it from the boards and posters in the museum.
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- Start your visit in a clockwise direction
Most visitors start the My Son Sanctuary trip counterclockwise whereas if you go in the clockwise direction then you face fewer large groups. The larger temples appear gradually.
- My Son Sanctuary Lake
My Son Sanctuary has a small lake that is connected to the streams. Visitors can enjoy a kayaking tour of the 3-kilometer-long lake. You can have a peaceful and spiritual experience in the temple waters. This is a highly recommended activity because the kayak tour gives a fascinating view of the entire area.
Damage of My Son Sanctuary in the Vietnam War
During the Vietnam war, different parts of the sanctuary and temples were destroyed by the American bombs. Many of them were covered by vegetation and not properly preserved by the authorities. There are many marks of US bombing and large craters in the ground. US military believed that this area was used to store war supplies so they bombed it very closely and only 17 structures survived from 71 buildings. The damage is very heartbreaking because many major parts of the historical structures do not even exist as ruins.
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Tips to visit My Son Sanctuary
- It is not only a historic site but also remained a religious site. It is mandatory to dress modestly and ensure that knees and shoulders are covered.
- It is a forest and there are a lot of mosquitos so wear long pants. Keep a rain jacket in your bag pack. There is a lot of unexpected rain.
- Wear sturdy and comfortable shoes which are waterproof. Avoid wearing slippery shoes because visitors need to climb up the mountain to visit some sites.
- Keep a refillable water bottle, snacks, sunblock, hat, sunglasses, and bug repellent spray in the bag pack.
Conclusion
There are many beautiful temples, towers, and stone sculptures in the tropical area. My Son Sanctuary remained a royal burial ground and political center for a long time. There are many fascinating things to see in the area. This is a wonderful place to learn about ancient Champa people, Hinduism, and war history in Vietnam.
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