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My Son Sanctuary (Quang Nam) is a complex of Hindu temples in central Vietnam, built over ten centuries. Today, the site is listed as a World Heritage Site. The travel website The Travel introduces the temples at My Son, which evoke comparisons to the most famous structures of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
My Son is the story of a decaying city of a lost civilization. Like other ancient cities in Southeast Asia, it is "lost" in ruins and desolation amidst a lush jungle.
The Hindu temples at My Son are dedicated to the god Shiva (also known as Bhadreshvara). These structures were built over a period of 1,000 years, from the 4th to the 14th centuries, by the Champa kings. My Son is also considered to have the most important Hindu temple complex in Southeast Asia, sometimes compared to Angkor Wat.
My Son Sanctuary is not only an important religious site but also the burial place of the Champa royal family and national heroes of the kingdom. It is also the archaeological site with the longest period of human habitation in the region.
My Son is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
My Son was rediscovered by the French in the 19th century. They subsequently restored parts of the ancient complex. At one point, the site contained over 70 temples and numerous stelae with important inscriptions in Cham and Sanskrit.
Unfortunately, much of the ancient architecture here was destroyed by American bombing. Today, of the approximately 70 temples that once existed, only about 20 remain. Nevertheless, the remnants of the ancient Champa culture and these 20 temples still offer a majestic and impressive sight to anyone who visits and explores them. Walking through the site, visitors will feel as if they have been transported back to the golden age of the Champa kingdom hundreds of years ago.
Like Angkor Wat, My Son Sanctuary boasts an enchanting setting nestled in a lush tropical forest valley. This UNESCO World Heritage site is located in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province. My Son is approximately 69 km southwest of the popular tourist city of Da Nang and about 10 km from the historical Champa capital of Tra Kieu.
There are many affordable tours to My Son with hotel pick-up and professional guides. Visitors will hear many interesting stories about the ancient temples and the site. You can also travel to the site independently, buy entrance tickets, and freely explore and take photos according to your own itinerary.
