Discovering My Son Sanctuary which was built in IV Century

Discovering the ruins of Champa Kingdom at My Son Sanctuary is extraordinary to many international and domestic travelers. A journey back to the history of Champa ethnic is maintained fascinating nowadays. The architecture of different towers is built from unique bricks; and the nature surround temples is peaceful to discover. Many constructions destroyed during the wars, and the government is trying to reconstruct the buiilding to welcome more visitors as well as preserve the historical culture. In December 1999, UNESCO designated My Son Sanctuary as a World Heritage Site.

1.Location of My Son Sanctuary

Address: Duy Phu Commune, Duy Xuyen District, Quang Nam Province

Locating peacefully in the rainforest-like setting, My Son Sanctuary is the most impressive complex of Cham’s relics. Locals and tourists are often call this is the “ 2^nd Angkor Wat” in Cambodia with smaller size. You can visit this destination from Hoi An or Danang with different type of transportations. Normally, it will take about 40 – 60 minutes to reach the attraction.

2.How to get to My Son Sanctuary?

As we mentioned above, you can travel to My Son Sanctuary from Hoi An or Danang. And, there are multiple transportations which you can choose for your trip. The distance is 69 kilometer away from Danang and 45 kilometer away from Hoi An Ancient Town. Below are our recommendations:

By Private Car / Taxi:

This is the most comfortable option for all travelers want to take the trip to My Son Sanctuary. The cost is around 37 USD to 50 USD for a round trip. You can book through a tourism agent like Explore Vietnam Travel. The driver will pick up and drop off at your accommodation. When you go for sightseeing in inside, the driver will wait you at the parking lot until you are done. Or you also can download the Grab app on your phone to book a car transfer.

Book Private

Website: https://danangprivatecar.com.vn/

Viber:  0846830490

By Motorbike/ Scooter:

If you love adventurous journey, you can consider to rent a scooter to drive to My Son Sanctuary. The duration will be almost an hour to reach the destination. Nowadays, there are many motorbike renting shops in Danang and Hoi An, you can rent one to explore full-day. The cost is around 8 USD – 10 USD/ bike.

By Bus:

It is depending on where is your departure destination to catch the right bus for your trip to My Son Sanctuary. If you stay in Danang, you can take the public bus number 06, this bus runs every 30 minutes beginings at 5:30am to 5:00pm. The cost for public bus from Danang is rate from 8,000 VNĐ to 30,000 VNĐ. If you stay in Hoi An, you reserve a seat at a shuttle bus depart at 8:30am and return at 1:45pm and the cost is 8 USD. Traveling by bus is saving cost but you do not have flexible time for sightseeing all special attractions in inside My Son.

Guide tour:

Currently, My Son Sanctuary is exploited and included as a tourist destination by many travel companies. If you want to experience this place, you can listen to the Tour Guide explain in detail about this place. So sign up for Explore Vietnam’s Danang 4 days 3 nights itinerary

3.Entrance Fee, Opening hours and the best time to visit My Son Sanctuary

3.1: Entrance Fee:

The price to purchase the ticket at My Son Sanctuary is 150,000 VNĐ = 8 USD. This ticket is a self-guide service so you will explore the destination on your own. Additionally, remember that the ticket includes 2 kilometer long electric car ride to My Son’s center and art performing areas. Addtionally, the ticket center also has local guide service to share you information about the attraction, you can ask for this service if you wanna learn about the attraction deeply.

3.2: Opening hours and the best time to visit My Son Sanctuary

Opening hours: 6:30am to 5:30pm daily (Including Tet and holidays)

The beauty of My Son attraction appears in early morning with sunrise. If you plan to visit to caprture wonderful and instagramle photos, we recommend you depart at 5:30am from Danang or Hoi An. It will take approximately an hour drive. The most crowded hours at this place is from 9:30am to 10:30am, so you should try to avoid these hours to visit this attraction.

Through the year, the best time to visit My Son is during the dry season which is from January to the end of September. Blue skies will be an ideal for sightseeing and photography. In these months, rain rarely occur, and temperatures are always high, reaching the peak from April to July.

4.The history of My Son Sanctuary.

My Son Sanctuary was built between 4^th and 13^th centeries CE by the King Bhadravarman. It has rich story about the Champa people who lived in Vietnam. Surround the My Son area have many towers which made by fired brick, sandstone bas-reliefs and stone pillars. The purpose of building this complex in My Son was worship the Hindu God Shiva. In addition, during the period that Champa was occupied, it was used for religious ceremonies by the kings of Champa. And, it was a burial places for those considered Cham royalty and national heroes.

Champa is a special culture that developed widely in central coast Vietnam and has its spiritual origins traced back to Indian Hinduism. In 1885, French architect, archaeologist, and historian, Henri Parmentier and his colleagues began to work on the attraction. During the excavating and documentation period, they found 72 monuments within 2 kilometer-wide valley.

The series of impressive towers at My Son are showing their distinctive stories of the architecture, religious and political beliefs. The stone stele of Cham royal dynasties have proven My Son to be the most important Holy Land of Cham people during those centeries which reflecys their style and history.

5.What is My Son Sanctuary famous for?

Wondering around My Son Sanctuary will take almost 2 hours to discover all the impressive brick towers and statues of Cham people. This is a large place with 1158 hectares for tourists to visit. In this article, we are highlight some main attractions and activities in inside for you in the following below:

5.1: Acient Cham architectures at My Son Temple

Besides the religious beliefs and features, the unique of Cham architectures have attracted many visitors worldwide come and discover. The designs have strong influence of Indian style. The Cham towers were built on quadrilateral foundations and each comprises three parts:

• A sturdy tower foundation: representing the mortal world;
• The enigmatic and sacred tower body: representing the spirit world;
• The tower top (shaped like a man offering flowers and fruits, or trees, birds, animals, and so on): representing things that are close to spirits and human beings.

The scuptural works of Cham people are very valuable until today. They are the evidences about the rich history and cultual tradition of an ethnic group that lived within Vietnamese community. Its really fascinating to discover and learn the diversity of our shaped-S country in the past.

5.2  My Son Sanctuary Museum

Passing through the ticket office, an informative place to learn the history and stories of Cham people in Vietnam is a museum. There are many statues, pictures and posters which display the general information about My Son Sanctuary. It is an ideal for a self-guide, you will be attracted by fascinating informations of Champa kingdom. We recommend that you should visit the museum first in case it will close half an hour earlier than the site.

5.3 Inspiring Apsara dance in My Son Sanctuary

Apsara dance is a traditional performance of Cham people, this is very fun activity which you should not miss out when you pay a visit to My Son Sanctuary. Folk music combine with dance movements in a sacred space that have made the place interestingly to discover. It is showing the joyful culture that this ethnic brings to locals and visitors. Dancers perform the dances which vary from Cham’s iconic Shiva and Aspara dances. The moves of dance blend with the rhythms of Ginang drums, Baranung drums, and Saranai trumpets. It is held at the stage before you reach the first group of ruins, opposite the souvenir shop.

The performances will take place in the morning from 9:30am and in the afternoon at 2:30pm. Kindly note on your travel list about this special event daily at My Son temple. This is a highlight activity to learn Champa culture and having fun with dancers. You can participate to dance with local artists if you want.

5.4 Kate festival in My Son Sanctuary

Kate festival will take place in 3 days in early October every year. Participating this special event at My Son is extraordinary activity because this will highlight diversity culture of Champa ethnic in Vietnam community. The event purpose is for Cham people commemorating their heroes and late-lamented families. This festival always is gathering locals and visitors together to share happiness and wish each others good fortunes such as praying for peace, wather procession and palanquin procession. Especially, you will have a memorbale time to enjoy extremely attractive musical instrument performances.

Participants of this special event will wear colorful traditional outfits. The traditional songs and passionate dancers will captivate the almostphere. Do not forget to attend Kate festival to experienxe the surreal Cham atmostphere in Vietnam.

6. Conclusion:

My Son Sanctuary is an attractive destination for visitors want to delve past diversity culture of Vietnam especially Champa ethnic. Historical stories, ỉmpressive architectures, ritual and graceful dance performances are waiting you to discover. This attraction is worth for everyone visit daily to learn various stories of our past.