My Son Sanctuary – Explore The Holy land of Hoi An

What is My Son Sanctuary?

My Son Sanctuary: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Used to be an important religious center of the Champa kingdom. My Son Sanctuary is located in Quang Nam province today. From here to the Tra Kieu archaeological site, one of the former capitals of Champa, it’s about 30km. Situated in the solemn space of a valley, surrounded by hills and mountains, the My Son archaeological site consists of over 70 towers, mostly built for worshiping the deity Shiva.

My Son Sanctuary is a complex of multiple Cham temples with unique architecture. It was once the site of religious ceremonies of the Champa people. The tombs of royal officials and princes from ancient Champa dynasties are also concentrated here. Forgotten for hundreds of years, it was not until 1885 that the site was rediscovered. In 1999, My Son Sanctuary was chosen by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. It is also one of the few remaining pieces of evidence of the vanished Asian civilization.

History of My Son Sanctuary in Hoi An

The predecessor of the architectural complex My Son Vietnam was a wooden temple dedicated to the deity Diva Bhadresvera. However, around the end of the 6th century, the wooden temple was destroyed by a fire. Nevertheless, the remaining steles and the rich history of various ancient dynasties indicate that My Son was the most important sacred site of the Cham people.

The My Son Sanctuary dates back to around the 4th century, making it the earliest in the My Son area. The main temples in My Son worship a Linga or the image of the god Shiva – the protector deity of the Cham kings. King Bhadresvara built a temple to dedicate to King Bhadravarman, who was the founding king of the first Amaravati region in the late 4th century. Gradually, it became assimilated with the god Shiva, becoming a religious belief in worshiping both the deity and the ancestral kings.

Many significant artifacts have been brought to the city of Da Nang, establishing the Champa Architecture Museum. Among them, there are particularly the statues of female warriors, revered deities of the Champa ethnic group, worshiped animals, as well as scenes of community life. These artifacts are exemplary sculptural artworks, carrying the cultural value of an ethnic group. Moreover, they are vivid evidence, authenticating the history of one of the ethnic groups in the rich cultural community of Vietnam.

How was the My Son Sanctuary abandoned and rediscovered?

According to historical records, the history of My Son began in the 4th century. The E1 tower, constructed in 750, stands as the oldest remaining relic at the My Son Sanctuary, while the B1 tower, built in 1234, represents the latest surviving structure. However, just eight years after the completion of the last tower, the Champa people abandoned and eventually forgot about Mỹ Sơn, leading to its subsequent decline and ruin.

642 years later, in 1885, French archaeologists discovered a deep archaeological site within the dense forest. In 1895, experts conducted research and uncovered 70 temple towers.

Due to the devastation of the war, by 1975, My Son had only preserved 32 structures. This number accounted for 3/4 of the remaining Cham towers in our country. Among them, 20 towers retained their original architectural features. Architect Kazimierz Kwiatkowski established the My Son Restoration Subcommittee under the Vietnam-Poland cultural cooperation program in 1980. Experts worked on reinforcement and restoration for 10 years. At present, the highest-level architectural center of Cham art has been nearly restored. The sacred site of My Son has regained some of its original appearance.

What to see at My Son Sanctuary

Techniques and Architecture of the Champa people

This place showcases the typical sculptural architectural style for each historical period of the Champa Kingdom. Mỹ Sơn features six distinct architectural styles, including those style: ancient, Đồng Dương, Hòa Lai, Mỹ Sơn, Bình Định, and the style of the PoNagar people. These styles showcase strong influences from Hinduism.

The sculpture technique on Cham bricks is rarely found in other regions. The towers all have pointed roofs, symbolizing the sacred peak of Mount Meru, the abode of Hindu deities. The gateways of the towers usually face east to receive the sunlight. The outer walls of the towers are often decorated with interlocking S-shaped patterns resembling scrolled leaves. The decorative objects include sculptures made of sandstone, depicting Makara (mythical creature), Apsara (celestial nymph), lions, elephants, the mythical bird Garuda, and praying human figures. They are closely arranged together. Until today, no research has determined the adhesive substance, human figures, or motifs on the towers.

The highlight of Cham sculpture art is the powerful expression of human vitality. It portrays the inner emotions that vary from exuberance and joy to tranquility and contemplation, as well as moments of reflection and restlessness. Each historical period leaves its own distinctive mark with unique architectural features. The My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam not only showcases the masterpieces of Cham architecture but also represents the cultural heritage of the entire Southeast Asian region.

The Ancient Road

An Indian expert discovered the Ancient road during the excavation and restoration of K Tower. It’s located in the core area of the My Son World Cultural Heritage site. The road is 8 meters wide and is led by two parallel walls. This buried road lies almost 1 meter below the ground level and served as the exclusive gateway for kings, members of the royal family, and high-ranking officials of Champa, according to historical records. It leads to the central temple complex for worshipping the deities and conducting ceremonies.

The experts were amazed by the grandeur of this road as they excavated, revealing its exquisitely designed and beautiful wall system. They also detected the use of special materials such as fired clay and binder additives during its construction. Construction materials such as fired clay and binder additives were also identified.

My Son Museum

The My Son Museum is located next to Khe Thẻ Stream. It is approximately 2km northwest of the My Son Sanctuary. Through the initial excavation and research in 1903-1904, Henri Parmentier and Charles Capeaux arranged the towers in My Son into groups. The tower groups were named using letters, while each tower within the group was assigned a number. For instance, the central tower of the main tower group is referred to as Tower A1.

According to the inscriptions, My Son may have had its first towers from the 4th or 5th century. However, to this day, only architectural structures dating back to the earliest period around the 7th century remain (such as the E group of towers). The majority of the best-preserved structures date from the 10th to 11th century (groups A, B, C, D).

The exhibits displayed in the My Son room exemplify the various styles in the development process of Cham sculpture art.

Aspara Dance, Folk Dance & Music

When visiting the Mỹ Sơn archaeological site, you can also visit the art performance area located right on the way to the main temples and towers. This is a highly significant element in the spiritual life of the Champa people.

The performances introduce the basic yet unique aspects of Cham music. Each act is compact and lasts about 30 minutes. They include the following segments: ritual dance, water drum dance, Apsara dance, and sarunai horn performance.

Worshipers perform the sacred dance of offering, known as the Ritual Dance of Offering, in temples and towers to honor divine spirits. The dancers wear ceremonial attire and carry offerings on a three-tiered tray called “thor hala” while holding fans or a piece of cloth in their hands.

The Apsara dance is staged for the theater. It retains the essence of the ancient Champa dance art. Set to the music of the Apsara Dancer composed by musician Amu Nhan, the Apsara dancers move gracefully as if stepping out of temple walls.

This program is also a place for people to learn more about the unique musical instruments of the Cham people. Some notable instruments include the baranưng drum, gineng drum, lục lạc (small handheld cymbals), tù và (a two-stringed instrument), and especially the saranai flute.

Get to My Son Sanctuary

The distance from Da Nang to My Son is approximately 70 km in the southwest direction. Meanwhile, Hoi An is only about 50 km west of the My Son Sanctuary.

From Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary

The route from Hoi An to the My Son Sanctuary is approximately 40km. If you’re traveling by car or personal motorbike, you can take the following route: Tran Hung Dao Street – Cam Kim Bridge – Duy Phuoc Bridge – Truong Sa Street – Hung Vuong Street – Provincial Road 610. Upon reaching Duy Phu, you will see a turn leading to My Son. The travel time is around 1 hour.

From Da Nang to My Son Sanctuary

Depending on your starting location, you can choose from various routes.

• The First route:

From National Highway 1, you travel south to Nam Phuoc town for about 39 km. Then, you continue west on route 537 for another 9 km until you reach Tra Kieu station. From there, you drive straight for about 12 km until you reach a three-way intersection, then turn left following the signboard. After another 9 km, you will arrive at My Son. From here, you can walk a mountainous path of approximately 200m to reach the tourist area.

• The second route:

Starting from Hoa Cam overpass, Cam Le district, you head towards National Highway 14B – Nguyen Trai Street. Then, turn left and continue straight to Kiem Lam ferry. Cross the ferry and follow route 537 in the opposite direction towards Nam Phuoc town. After about 1 km, you will see a sign pointing towards My Son. Simply follow the instructions to reach your destination.

Compared to the first route, the second route saves approximately 30 minutes of travel time. However, it is a bit more circuitous and less attractive. You should consider these factors to choose the appropriate route.

Bus route to My Son Sanctuary

The bus route to My Son is bus number 06. It departs from the central bus station in Da Nang city and goes to My Son, which is approximately 60km away. Buses run every 30 minutes. Once you arrive at the entrance of the sanctuary, you need to walk about 500 meters to reach the My Son temple complex.

• Operating hours: Refer to 5:30 am to 5:00 pm daily, with a frequency of 30 minutes per trip.
• Ticket prices: The fare varies depending on the destination of the passengers, ranging from 8,000 to 30,000 Vietnamese dong per trip.

Hiring a Private Car To Visit My Son

You can take a taxi from Da Nang to visit the My Son Sanctuary. There are many taxi companies with affordable prices that can take you directly there. The average cost is around 400-500k VND (Vietnamese Dong) per way.

Alternatively, you can choose to rent a car for the day. This way, you will have more flexibility in terms of time and can also combine visiting multiple destinations. The price will vary depending on the type of car you rent. However, remember to book in advance if you are traveling during the peak season. The high number of visitors during that time may result in increased prices.

To My Son by Motorbike

Motorbike rental prices in Da Nang are quite affordable, ranging from about 100,000 to 150,000 VND per day (depending on the type). Along the way, you will have plenty of opportunities to admire the beautiful scenery and immerse yourself in the sky and clouds.

Visit My Son

Best time to visit the My Son Holy land

The best time to visit the holy site of My Son is from February to April. Quang Nam province experiences two seasons, the rainy season (from September to December) and the dry season (from February to August). During the mentioned time frame, the weather is relatively cool and there is no intense sunlight, making it an ideal time for exploring the My Son sanctuary.

My Son Sanctuary Entrance Fee

Ticket prices for visiting the historical site of My Son are as follows:

• 150,000 Vietnamese Dong per person for international visitors.
• 100,000 Vietnamese Dong per person for domestic tourists.

The entrance ticket includes the fee for electric shuttle service to the site and watching cultural performances.

What to wear at My Son

Travelers should prioritize outfits made from comfortable and sweat-wicking materials. They can wear dresses, skirts, maxi dresses, jeans, t-shirts, and other styles, but it’s important to remember not to dress too provocatively as it is still a famous heritage site.

In addition to clothing, don’t forget to bring a jacket and a hat. Walking is the primary means of exploring this destination. You must prepare a pair of athletic shoes or sandals that are low-heeled and comfortable.

My Son Sanctuary Tour

Experiencing the My Son Sanctuary through a tour is a good choice. The tour will arrange the entire itinerary for you, and there will also be a dedicated guide for the group. This will help you save time thinking and organizing everything.

If you prefer not to join a group, you can also book a private tour. This is a more private and comfortable option, although it will be more expensive.

Hire a Tour Guide

There is always a free electric bus that takes you close to the UNESCO World Heritage sites. When you get off the bus, look for signs indicating where you can hire an official tour guide. Having a tour guide will help you learn more about this sacred land.

What to prepare when visiting the My Son Sanctuary

Make sure to bring an umbrella, sunscreen, motion sickness medication, and other necessary items. Additionally, pack some snacks, fruits, and drinks to have in case you get hungry. Remember to always carry your personal identification documents in your wallet. Also, don’t forget to bring a camera or your phone to capture and preserve the memories.