Visit the My Son Sanctuary in a small group

Description

1. Smooth and personalized logistics Your experience begins right on your doorstep. Enjoy a private pick-up directly from your Inn in Hoi An by your Guide and driver. After a morning of exploration rich in discoveries, let’s ensure a comfortable return to Hoi An in the early afternoon, leaving you the rest of the day to stroll through the old town. 2. Immersion in the intellectual and religious centre of the Champa Much more than just a visit to ruins, this tour reveals the duality of the ancient kingdom: if Simhapura was its political capital, My Son was its intellectual and religious heart. Between the 4th and 13th centuries, this sanctuary was the nerve centre of Cham thought and spirituality. From the end of the 4th century, the Cham erected towers and majestic temples dedicated to kings and Brahmin deities.

Tour Options

Itinerary

What's included

Pickup Locations & Times

How to Prepare and Recognize Your Guide? Personal preparation: To take full advantage of this historic immersion, we recommend wearing light clothing, comfortable walking shoes and sun protection (hat, cream). Don't forget your camera! Meeting Point: Your Guide will be waiting for you directly in the lobby of your Inn (Lobby). No need to go out on the street, relax in the reception area, we will come to you. How do we recognize each other? Your Guide will be easily identified

Important Information

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• The My Son sanctuary is located in the town of Duy Phu, Duy Xuyên district, in the province of Quang Nam, 69 km southwest of Dà Nang and 20 km from the citadel of Trà Kiêu. It is a set of ruined Cham temples, nestled in a valley about 2 km in diameter.
• The first towers were built in the 4th century. Throughout the centuries, small and large towers have appeared, which now form this emblematic ensemble of the ancient Champa in Vietnam. My Son was once a cultural and religious center, as well as the burial place of kings and monks. King Bhadravarman I (whose reign spans from 381 to 413) built a temple there dedicated to Shiva.
• With more than 70 brick and stone buildings constructed between the 7th and 13th centuries, My Son has become the most important architectural center in the kingdom of Champa. The main temples honor the protectors of the Champa. The main god at My Son is Bhadresvara, named after the king who founded the first kingdom in the Amaravati region at the end of the 4th century.
• The architecture reflects the cultural influence of India. Most of the towers have a pyramid roof supposed to represent Mount Meru, home of the gods of the Hindu pantheon. The main tower (Kalan) is surrounded by lower towers, all oriented to the East to receive sunlight. Due to the great architectural and cultural influence of India, My Son also has a number of stelae engraved in Sanskrit - the sacred and literary language of ancient India.
• For many centuries, Chams have built towers with unique, complex architecture, such as the main temple celebrating Linga-Yoni, the symbol of creative energy, all in red bricks and sandstone. Brick has the distinction of being very resistant, despite its apparent fragility. For example, no foam settles there. At the end of the rainy season, the few visible mosses disappear under the effect of heat. It seems that the torrential rains have no catch either on the towers which dry very quickly. In short, for centuries, nothing seemed to be able to destabilize these remarkable towers ... except the war which has badly damaged them, unfortunately. The Viet công (National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam) had established a base in this zone, considered to be strategic, to which the Americans responded by bombarding the monuments.
• Obviously, the state of the whole is very irregular but what remains offers an interesting view of the sculptural and architectural art of the old Champa. My Son was listed by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage in December 1999. This site, one of the most impressive in the Hoi An region, has also become one of the largest tourist destinations in the country.

Frequently asked questions