My Son Sanctuary Temple In Hôi An – Visitor’s Guide

My Son Sanctuary is a cluster of ancient Hindu temples that were constructed in the emerald hills in the Duy Xuyen District, Hoi An between the 4th and the 14th century.

These restored temples are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s the most popular attraction in the region that draws in thousands of visitors every year.

I have put together this complete guide to My Son Sanctuary Vietnam including how to get there, how much it costs and what to expect when you arrive.

WHERE IS THE MY SON SANCTUARY?

My Son Sanctuary is located 40km west of Hoi An, Vietnam. The journey takes around one hour from Hoi An.

Click here to see the location on Google maps.

HOW TO GET HERE

There are two options for reaching this UNESCO site which I have listed below.

Option 1: MY SON SANCTUARY TOUR

The My Son Temple Day Tour is the most top-rated tour with great reviews and thousands of bookings.

This tour covers the highlights of My Son Sanctuary UNESCO site plus a visit to Kim Bong Carpentry Village and a light lunch on a boat cruise down the river ending at Nguyen Hoang Pier.

All this for just $10 USD.

Book Now → My Son Sanctuary Tour

Option 2: DIY

If you wish to visit the temple DIY you can rent a scooter from Hoi An for just $5 a day.

I picked up a rental scooter from ‘Hoi An motorbike tours and rentals’ the day before heading out to the sanctuary. I left Hoi An at 5 am in order to be at the sanctuary for sunrise.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT MY SON SANCTUARY HOI AN

The sanctuary is open Monday to Sunday from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm and the entrance fee is 150,000 VND.

As you enter the gates, there is a courtesy buggy that will transport you from the main gate of the park to the start of the walking trail.

The trail is very easy to navigate and it will lead you through the abandoned complex of magnificent Hindu ruins. There are a total of 71 temple structures that are impressively older than the Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia.

MY SON SANCTUARY HISTORY

The words ‘My Son’ means ‘beautiful mountain’ in Vietnamese. The sanctuary was used by the Champa civilization as a political center and a royal burial ground. The temples were devoted to the Hindu gods and goddesses, especially Shiva, who was considered the protector of the Champa’s kings.

Book Now → My Son Temple Day Tour

The sanctuary was originally constructed out of wood in the 4th century and then later destroyed by a fire which the cause is still unknown. The complex was rebuilt by the subsequent kings out of red brick and limestone.

Unfortunately, during the most recent war, the Americans bombed the region knowing that the Viet Cong was using it as a hiding place. Thankfully, the majority of the temples survived the bombings and parts of the ruins have been restored.

BEST VIETNAM TOURS

WHAT TO PACK FOR VIETNAM

When visiting Vietnam, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

FINAL THOUGHTS

I hope you find this blog post useful and if you have any further questions, please drop me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can. For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

THANKS FOR READING

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