Over time, My Son Sanctuary has become more and more ancient and mysterious, attracting both domestic and foreign tourists. 

My Son Sanctuary is located in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province. It is about 70 km from Da Nang city and 40 km from Hoi An. This is the Hindu holy site of the ancient Champa Kingdom.

My Son Sanctuary is located in Quang Nam province

According to traditional rituals, each king after being enthroned went to My Son to perform a baptismal ceremony, present offerings and build a temple.

The area was discovered in 1885 by a group of French soldiers. Ten years later (1895), archaeologist Camille Paris came here to clear and investigate for the first time. From then to 1904, many other researchers and archaeologists also came to uncover the secret here such as Louis Finot, Henri Permentier, etc.

My Son Sanctuary is located in a valley, with a diameter of about 2 km. It consists of 70 temples and towers built according to the same principle and divided into clusters.

It consists of 70 temples and towers

The structure of each cluster consists of the main temple, surrounded by small towers or auxiliary works. In the structure, the main temple represents Mount Meru - the center of the universe and the gathering place of worshipping Gods and Siva.

The gate tower is located in front of the main temple, with two connecting gates in the east and west. Mandapa is the long house next to the gate tower, used as a place to welcome pilgrims and receive offerings. Next to the main temple is a tower with one or two rooms. The entrance is on the north side, used as a place to store sacrifices. The sub-temples worship the Gods who look after the sky. 

The architectural style here is divided into 6 categories including: ancient style, Hoa Lai, Dong Duong, My Son, Po Nagar and Binh Dinh style.

Common motifs are flowers and leaves; animals such as elephants or lions; the image of Kala - Makara (a symbol of the Champa people); the scene of Apsara dancers and musicians; guardian angels or Makara water monsters, etc. 

The motifs of a temple

Between 1965 and 1972, the Duy Xuyen area became a battlefield. Along with the villages, this holy site suffered heavy losses. In particular, the 1969 bombing deformed the shape, causing most of the temples to collapse or suffer major damage.

In 1980, within the framework of the cultural cooperation program between Vietnam and Poland, the subcommittee of Champa relic restoration was established by the late architect Kazimiers Kwiatkowske. At that time, this antiquity was cleaned, reinforced and restored. As a result, the areas retain their present-day appearance. 

In order for the relic to stand firm over time, in 1995, the management board of My Son Relic was established. In 1998 and 1999, the dossier submitted to UNESCO for recognition of this place as a world heritage site was also sent. 

In December 1999, this holy site was officially recognized as a World Cultural Heritage site with two standards: being an outstanding example of cultural exchange, and the integration into the local culture. External cultural influences, especially Hindu architectural art from the Indian subcontinent, vividly reflect the development process of Champa cultural history in Southeast Asian cultural history.

For conservation, a green belt was established by planting trees around. Thanks to that, the green color began to cover the surrounding area.

Currently, this place is open to visitors all days of the year. The price of a ticket for domestic tourists is 60,000 VND and international visitors is 100,000 VND.

Tags: Vietnam tourist attractions, Vietnam religious tourist destinations, My Son Sanctuary in Vietnam, religious tourist attractions in Asia, Vietnam cultural tourism, Vietnam tourism development, Vietnam tourism best places to visit, Vietnam tourism city