Nestled in a lush green valley in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province, My Son Sanctuary appears like a mysterious and magnificent historical picture. This place is known as "Vietnam's miniature Angkor Wat", a unique complex of Cham Pa temple relics, marked by its sophisticated architecture and great historical value.
Although My Son Sanctuary is no longer intact, it still carries the impression of a once prosperous Champa country.
The mysterious architecture of My Son Sanctuary
Entering the gate of the relic site, visitors seem to be lost in another world, completely separate from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. The majestic Champa temples, surrounded by shady ancient trees, create a peaceful and quiet atmosphere.
At the foot of Chua Mountain, the sacred Hon Den peak is My Son Sanctuary.
Nguyen Thanh Nhat (currently a student at An Giang University) had the opportunity to visit My Son Sanctuary and shared: "Due to the long time, most of the towers at My Son Sanctuary are covered with ancient and unique moss. Many towers are no longer intact, but in general, the Cham architectural features are still preserved from the patterns, columns, doors...".
The statues and patterns are carved very vividly and meticulously down to every detail.
My Son possesses more than 70 temples and towers built from the 4th to the 13th century, spanning many Champa kings' dynasties. Due to the devastation of war, by 1975, the temple and tower complex had only 32 structures remaining. Of these, 20 remained intact as they were originally. Each temple and tower is a unique work of art, demonstrating the sophisticated stone carving and construction techniques of the ancient Champa people.
There are still intact temple towers.
Visitors can spend hours admiring the delicate patterns and sharp carvings on each brick and stone slab. The most special part is the brickwork, the bricks are fired and cut into blocks, then stacked on top of each other without the need for adhesives like today. After centuries, they still stand firm and this is also one of the biggest mysteries that no one has been able to explain.
The mystery of the bricks and adhesive remains unsolved.
Traces of time are imprinted on the temples.
Standing out among the relic complex is the K1 tower, considered the symbol of My Son. The K1 tower was built in the 10th century, dedicated to the worship of Shiva - the supreme god in Hinduism. With its unique architecture and sophisticated decorative patterns, the K1 tower has become a source of inspiration for many artists and photographers.
In addition, visitors can also visit other temples such as: A1 temple, B1 temple, C1 temple, G1 temple... Each temple has its own unique beauty and contains fascinating historical stories.
Each temple has its own beauty.
Cham cultural characteristics in the valley of the gods
Coming to My Son, visitors not only admire the mysterious and unique architectural works but also have the opportunity to learn about the culture, history and beliefs of the ancient Cham people.
"To understand more about Champa culture, listening to the tour guide is one of the things that cannot be missed. The closing time here is 5 p.m., so visitors should also pay attention to move to leave the temple tower area before closing time. You can choose to take the electric car from the temple gate to save time," Thanh Nhat said.
In Champa religious concept, Linga and Yoni are the spirit world symbolizing yang and yin.
Visitors can also participate in traditional Cham Pa art performances, or enjoy Quang Nam specialties to better understand this land. Every day, the entire mountains and forests here are immersed in a symphony of Cham Pa culture, recreated by talented artists.
The resounding sound of the Saranai trumpets, combined with the rhythmic sounds of Ginang and Paranung drums, is typical of Cham artists. Visitors will be fascinated by the graceful and skillful dances of the Apsara dancers. The dance is inspired by the Apsara stone sculptures, one of the unique features of Cham music.
Especially during festivals, My Son wears a brilliant and bustling beauty. Visitors will witness unique traditional rituals, special folk dances, and enjoy the specialties of the Cham people.
From the valley of the gods to the sacred mountain peaks associated with mysterious stories imbued with ancient folk art.
Walking around the temples and towers of an ancient kingdom, Thanh Nhat confided: "Compared to many other temples and towers, My Son Sanctuary has its own unique beauty, although it is not completely intact and covered with moss, but this is what makes it unique. One of the things that I quite enjoy is that this place is of interest to many foreign tourists and is chosen to visit when coming to Vietnam."
With its great cultural and historical values, My Son Sanctuary was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 1999. This is an ideal destination for those who love to explore history, culture and ancient architecture.
