Attraction
Hoi An Ancient Town
The UNESCO-listed former trading port of Faifo, with more than a thousand preserved houses, Chinese assembly halls, temples and museums set along the Thu Bon River.
My Son Sanctuary
A valley of ruined Cham Hindu temples built between the 4th and 13th centuries, about 35 km from Hoi An and listed by UNESCO in 1999.
At a glance
- Type
- Cham temple ruins (UNESCO)
- Area
- Thu Bon (day trip), Hoi An, Vietnam
- Opening
- Open daily · 06:00–18:00
Good to know
- Electric shuttle included
- Site museum
- Cham dance performances
Why we recommend it
My Son Sanctuary is the most rewarding day trip from Hoi An for anyone interested in history. Set in a valley in the hills inland, it is a cluster of abandoned and partly ruined Hindu temples dedicated to Shiva, built by the kings of Champa between the 4th and 13th centuries. UNESCO listed the site as a World Heritage Site in 1999, the same year as Hoi An Ancient Town.
The earliest known structure was a hall with a lingam that King Bhadravarman I, who ruled from 380 to 413, built to worship Shiva under the name Bhadreshvara. Over the following centuries the kings of Champa added more than 70 temples and tombs. When the researcher Parmentier surveyed the site in 1899 he recorded the remains of 71 temples and divided them into groups labelled with letters, a system still used today. Much of the site was destroyed by US bombing in August 1969, so what survives is a series of brick towers in various states of preservation. Almost all were built of red brick, and only one, B1, used stone.
The site is in My Son Hamlet, Thu Bon Commune, about 35 km from Hoi An, which takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour by road, and about 45 to 50 km from central Da Nang. Visiting hours are 06:00 to 18:00, with tickets sold until 17:00, and the site museum opens from 06:00 to 17:00. The ticket covers the temple complex, the museum, the electric shuttle from the entrance and the Cham cultural performances. Guided interpretation is available for an extra fee.
Short shows of Apsara dance and traditional Cham music take place daily at 09:00, 09:45, 10:30 and 11:15, and at 14:00, 14:45 and 16:00, and a programme called Echoes of My Son is held at the B, C and D tower group on the 15th day of each lunar month. The tourism board recommends arriving between 06:30 and 09:00 for cooler temperatures, softer light and fewer people.
Allow at least three to four hours on site, wear comfortable shoes, and bring water, sun protection and a hat or rain jacket depending on the season, as most of the visit is outdoors. Do not climb on the monuments or touch artefacts. You can go by motorbike, by private car or taxi, or on a guided tour, and you can combine the morning at My Son with an afternoon back in Hoi An's old town.
My Son Sanctuary FAQs
How far is My Son from Hoi An?
About 35 km, or roughly 45 minutes to an hour by road.
What are the opening hours?
The site is open from 06:00 to 18:00, with tickets sold until 17:00.
What does the ticket include?
The temple complex, the My Son Museum, the electric shuttle and the Cham cultural performances.
When are the dance performances?
Daily at 09:00, 09:45, 10:30, 11:15, 14:00, 14:45 and 16:00.
What is the best time to visit?
The tourism board suggests arriving between 06:30 and 09:00 for cooler temperatures and good light.
How long should you allow?
At least three to four hours on site.
When was My Son listed by UNESCO?
It became a World Heritage Site in 1999.
Who built the temples?
The kings of Champa, between the 4th and 13th centuries.