The UNESCO World Heritage Site of My Son
The UNESCO World
Heritage Site of My Son
Said to have shaped the foundation of Central Vietnam’s religion in the former days, UNESCO-protected
My Son is a sanctuary for delving deeper into the Champa Kingdom.A short drive
from Hoi An, this always is a bucket list favourite for any traveller.
WHY THIS TOUR?
Situated around 40 kilometres south-west of Hoi An and Da Nang in a lush green valley, My Son was the cultural and religious centre of the once powerful but now extinct Champa Kingdom.
To date, the site still represents one of the most outstanding Hindu temple complexes in South East Asia; in 1999 it was recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site and remains as of today. This well-guarded site is an impressive collection of red-brick towers and sanctuaries built with no mortar, some of them as old as 1300 years.
TRAIL ITINERARY
08:00 - 12:00
This morning-only tour starts with a welcoming smile from your guide and driver who are very eager to show you around this magnificent site. As you transfer from your hotel or resort in the southwestern direction to this UNESCO World Heritage Site of My Son, he/she will explain along the way about life is about before reaching this unmissable piece of history.
Via a short walk through a forest region, you will see the first red-bricked towers dooming up. My Son was heavily damaged during the years when combat and war raged through the country but, fortunately, enough has been spared (and partially renovated) to keep it under the watchful eye of UNESCO. Various temple ruins and relics of its stature are spreading over a large field, where sometimes nature has found its way, giving it a unique feeling.
It is said that when you visit My Son, you feel the energy of the Champa Kingdom. The walls are adorned with the sculptures of gods, priests, animals, and scenes of mythical battles and devotion. The complex was designed as a place of worship of Lord Vishnu. At one time, the site comprised over 70 temples, tombs, and numerous samples with historically vital inscriptions in Sanskrit and Cham related to the construction of My Son have been used to tell its story to all those entering its serene feeling realm.
Your guide for the morning will provide you with sufficient time to take pictures of this site before the journey back to your booked hotel/resort ends this half-day exploration of the My Son temple ruins. Based on the often extreme heat, avoiding the power of the sun after lunchtime and being out in the open, we only operate this tour in the morning.