My Son Sanctuary
Vietnam's ancient Cham Shiva temples
Wikimedia Commons
About My Son Sanctuary
Set in a lush valley in central Vietnam, My Son is a cluster of brick Hindu temples built by the Cham kings between the 4th and 14th centuries, dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva as Bhadreshvara. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is the foremost surviving relic of the Hindu Champa civilisation.
Aarti Timings
- Opens06:00
- Closes17:00
Timings are indicative and may change on festival days.
Festivals & Sacred Days
Kate Festival
September–October (Cham calendar)The most important festival of the surviving Cham people, who honour their deities and ancestral kings; though centred on temples in the Phan Rang area, it keeps alive the religious heritage embodied at My Son.
Cham Cultural Performances
Daily / year-roundTraditional Cham music and apsara-style dance are performed for visitors at the sanctuary, evoking the rituals once held in honour of Bhagwan Shiva.
Poojas & Sevas
Historic Shiva Worship
My Son was for centuries the religious heart of the Champa kingdom, where kings worshipped Bhagwan Shiva as Bhadreshvara through the linga-yoni shrines; today it is an archaeological site rather than a place of active worship.
Linga-Yoni Shrines
The surviving brick towers enshrine linga and yoni emblems of Shiva; visitors view these as heritage monuments, the living rituals having ceased centuries ago.
Travel Guide
Address
My Son Sanctuary, Duy Phu, Duy Xuyen District, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
Nearest Airport
Da Nang International Airport (DAD), about 60 km
Nearest Railway
Da Nang and Tra Kieu railway stations are the nearest; most visitors travel by car or tour from Hoi An or Da Nang.
Best Season
February to August for drier weather; visit early morning to avoid the heat and the largest tour groups.
Dress Code
Modest dress and good walking shoes for the uneven archaeological paths; sun protection is advisable in the open valley.
How to reach
About an hour's drive southwest of Hoi An; reached by car, tour bus or motorbike, then a short electric-cart and walk into the valley of ruins.
🛫 Plan Your Visit
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