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What to expect from a trip to My Son Sanctuary?
The mysterious architecture of My Son Sanctuary (Photo: collected)
My Son Sanctuary is the cluster of Cham Pa temple relics located in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province. It is 20 km west of Tra Kieu, 45 km west of Hoi An city, 68 km southwest of Da Nang city, and 145 km south of the former capital Hue. This area is situated in a valley with a diameter of about 2 km, surrounded by verdant hills. It used to be a place for religious rituals and the burial site of Cham Pa kings, princes, and nobles from ancient Cham Pa dynasties. In 1999, My Son Sanctuary in Vietnam was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site.
The solemn and magnificent sanctuary (Photo: collected)
Embark on a journey to explore the most mysterious sanctuary in Vietnam, you can easily travel here by any means of motorcycle or car. From Hoi An, My Son is about 50 km away. The starting point is Hung Vuong street, follow National Highway 1A straight to My Son. Typically, for adventure-loving travelers, especially backpackers, it takes only about 2 hours to get there. The rental price for a motorbike is around 150,000 - 200,000 VND/day. Remember to fill up the gas tank before departing and keep an eye on the weather forecast.
Bearing the mark of ancient history
..'The My Son Heritage Site is a historical complex with over 70 temples representing various architectural styles that reflect different periods of Champa kingdom history' (Photo: collected)
My Son Sanctuary dates back to the 4th century - the earliest in My Son. King Bhadresvara built a temple dedicated to King Bhadravarman - the founder of the first Amaravati kingdom in the late 4th century, equated with the deity Siva, becoming a place of worship for gods, kings, and ancestral spirits. It is a complex of many temples of the Champa kingdom, nestled in a small valley with a diameter of about 2 km, surrounded by hills.
Architecture leaving a strong mark at My Son
The exquisite architectural designs and intricate carvings leave a strong mark at My Son (Photo: Collected)
The My Son complex comprises over 70 tower-temples representing various architectural styles that epitomize different historical periods of the Champa kingdom. Architectural styles here are categorized into 6 types: ancient, Hoa Lai, Dong Duong, My Son, Po Nagar, and the style of the people of Binh Dinh. Most of the architectural works and sculptures at My Son bear the influence of Hinduism from India.
'..The highlight of Champa sculpture art is the vivid depiction of human life with emotions ranging from exuberance to tranquility and contemplation' (Photo: collected)
The carving technique on bricks by the Champa people is rare in other arts in the region. The towers all have spires, symbolizing the holy peak of Mount Meru, the abode of Hindu gods. The tower gates typically face east to receive sunlight. The outer walls of the towers are often decorated with intertwined leaf patterns in an S shape. Decorative objects include sculptures of sandstone Makara (mythical creature with sharp fangs and a long trunk), Apsara dancers, lions, elephants, Garuda bird, praying figures. They are closely arranged, and to this day, no study has determined the adhesive material, human figures, or shapes on the towers. The highlight of Champa sculpture art is the vivid depiction of human life with emotions ranging from exuberance to tranquility and contemplation. Each historical period leaves its own mark with distinct architectural lines. My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam not only showcases the masterpieces of Champa architecture but also of the entire Southeast Asian cultural region.
The temple at My Son is built with highly durable materials, still standing today (Photo: collected)
Overview of My Son Relics
The overall sanctuary consists of two hills facing each other in an east-west direction, located at the intersection of a stream, with the branches of the stream becoming natural boundaries dividing the area into four zones: A, B, C, D. This division is both in line with feng shui principles and avoids the fragmentation of architectural complexes. The central sanctuary features a main tower (Kalan) surrounded by many smaller auxiliary towers. The main tower has two doors facing east-west, each door with 8 steps leading up and rolled arches. Atop each rolled arch is a smaller tower, according to historical records, this is the tallest tower in the My Son sanctuary with a height of 24m, a square base, and each side is 10m long. Inside the tower is a large Linga - Yoni set (now only a stone Yoni base remains). The tower has 3 floors, each getting smaller, with the top being a sandstone peak. Each floor has a false door, with a figure standing under the rolled arch. Two false doors on each side have two rolled arches stacked on top of each other, intricately decorated with patterns.
This place attracts many tourists from both inside and outside the country (Photo: collected)
Time and war have heavily damaged the relics. But what remains here is still the mysterious beauty, unique architecture bearing the distinctiveness of the Champa people. It's this that has drawn the curiosity of tourists from both inside and outside the country to come and explore. Children under 15 years old enjoy free admission (including electric car fees to the relics and cultural performances). Local guides here are very friendly, enthusiastic, and hospitable. They take pride in their ethnicity so the information they provide to you will be very different from going with a tour guide.
Graceful and delicate Cham dances at My Son (Photo: collected)
My Son Sanctuary not only features distinctive architecture but also embodies the rich culture of the Cham people with their graceful and delicate dances. Unique among these ceremonial dances is the ritual dance honoring the deities performed at the temple towers. Visitors will witness Cham dancers wearing candles, water, flowers, and betel leaves on their heads, celebrating in a lively manner. The Apsara dance is another highlight, performed on stage. Its gracefulness and smoothness praise the beauty and exquisite curves bestowed upon these beauties by nature, easily captivating visitors to My Son. Additionally, there are various outstanding artistic activities here such as folk storytelling, fire-eating dances, ritual dances, and water dances, which are sure to delight visitors. This place is also a magnet for photography enthusiasts who appreciate the mystical and unique atmosphere of the sanctuary. It's one of the destinations for backpackers who love to explore and discover, stopping here to capture some memorable photos with friends or loved ones.
Beautiful scenery at sunset (Photo: collected)
Visitors not only stop to experience the My Son relics but also around here, there are a few places you should visit such as Tra Kieu Church, Tra Kieu Virgin Mary, and the Sa Huynh - Champa Cultural Museum.
Enjoy delicious, nutritious, and affordable local specialties here: clear tapioca cakes, Tam Ky chicken rice, green eel porridge from Quang Nam, traditional cakes, Quang-style noodles... with family and friends. Trust me, you'll definitely want to come back here for a second time.
My Son Sanctuary Entrance Fees
- Foreigners: 150,000 VND (including entrance fee and services).
- Vietnamese: 100,000 VND (including entrance fee and services).
Katê Festival
If you visit My Son Sanctuary during a festival, your trip will become much more exciting and fulfilling. You'll witness the beginning of the festival with Cham religious dignitaries performing rituals and prayers right at the towers, following ancient customs. Many other traditional rituals take place, such as costume processions, parades, water processions, and Katê,... Plus, there are plenty of cultural exchanges, performances of Cham traditional musical instruments, graceful Cham dances by talented artists,... The festival is an opportunity for local people and tourists from both domestic and international to gain more understanding about this place as well as contribute to preserving and protecting the pure artistic values of the ancient Cham culture.
Procession ceremony (Photo: ST)
Katê Festival (Photo: ST)
The ancient thousand-year-old path at My Son Sanctuary
The ancient road, discovered by Indian experts during the excavation and restoration of Tower K within the core area of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site of My Son, is an impressive find. Spanning up to 8 meters wide, the road is flanked by two parallel walls. Its depth buried in the ground is nearly 1 meter, and according to recorded documents, this was the first gateway through which only kings, royal members, and the highest dignitaries of Champa could enter the central temple complex to worship the gods and hold ceremonies. After excavating it, experts were astonished by the grandeur of this road with its ingeniously crafted wall system, made of distinct materials such as baked clay and special adhesive additives. This fascinating discovery has enriched the long-standing historical, architectural, cultural, and artistic values established by ancient people throughout the entire complex.
Experts were surprised to discover an ancient road and buried wall (Photo: ST)
The newly uncovered ancient route at the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site of My Son starts at the base of Tower K, also known as the Gate Tower, with its endpoint yet to be determined (Photo: ST)
It served as the first gateway through which only kings, royal members, and the highest dignitaries of Champa could enter the central temple complex to worship the gods (Photo: ST)
Enchanting Apsara Dance
Inspired by the stone Apsara sculptures (Yang Naitri celestial dancers) found in bas-reliefs or sandstone statues, transformed from stone into graceful, fluid, and gentle dances more than ever, showcasing the perfect and exquisite beauty of nature bestowed upon the fairer sex, Apsara dances are performed at public art festivals and even professional stages. In all cultural events in Quang Nam province or specifically at the My Son Sanctuary, including the Katê festival, you will witness the enchanting Apsara dance - the 'soul of stone' dance, mesmerizing you as if you were lost in the ancient Champa culture with images of slender girls with bamboo leaf hats, full breasts, seductive curves in vibrant, glittering costumes, accompanied by the sound of Paranưng drums and Sarainai horns. The dance becomes even more beautiful and graceful, leaving you enchanted.
In festivals in Quang Nam, dance is an indispensable part (Photo: ST)
The captivating Apsara dance mesmerizes tourists (Photo: ST)
This place not only preserves the ancient traces of a cultural heritage but also contains unique values of history, culture, architecture, and art. If you come to Quang Nam and miss the World Cultural Heritage My Son Sanctuary, it's truly a big loss for your journey.
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