My Son

## Overview

Between the 4th and 13th centuries a
unique culture which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism developed on
the coast of contemporary Viet Nam. This is graphically illustrated by the
remains of a series of impressive tower-temples located in a dramatic site that
was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its
existence.

## Location

Mỹ Sơn is located near the village of
Duy Phú, in the administrative district of Duy Xuyên in Quảng Nam Province in
Central Vietnam, 69 km southwest of Da Nang.

## Characteristics

My Son was also a political
centre and a royal burial ground and the complex consists of more than 70
structures devoted to Hindu gods and goddesses and the most noticeable one,
Shiva, was considered the protector of the Champa’s kings. Their skilful use of
red bricks and sandstone is remarkable. Like many historic sites around the
world, My Son was destroyed by time and wars and after lying neglected for a
long time it was rediscovered and renovated by the French in 1898. Sadly the
most recent war did great damage to the complex as the Americans bombed this
area knowing that the Viet Cong used it as a hiding place, mistakenly thinking
that the enemy would not touch a holy site. However, the majority of the
central complex managed to survive the bombs and parts of the ruins have now
been rebuilt. Overall, this Hindu sanctuary reminds visitors of other similar
sites in Southeast Asia including the great Angkor Wat in Cambodia. A
must-visit for those who appreciate history.

## History

My Son consists of 70 architectural
works ranging from small to great size. It used to be holly land of Cham people
from the 4th to 13th century. In the 4th century, in the King Bhadravarman’s
time, after the construction of Tra Kieu, the religious center of Cham kingdom
was set in My Son to welcome royal members, aristocrats and host important
religious rituals. Continually developing through nearly nine centuries, My Son
witnessed the glorious, prosperous as well as declining time of Champa kingdom.

The first temple was built from wood in the
4th century to worship the Saint Siva Bhadravarman, whose name is the
combination King Bhadravarman at that time and Saint Siva. However, the wooden
temple was totally damaged because of a fire in the 6th century. In later
years, the Cham Kings continued to build more new temples and towers to worship
the God, Saints and show their great power. By late 13th century, Champa
kingdom was attacked by neighbor countries like Vietnam, Chinese, and Khmer and
had to move the capital to the south in Binh Thuan province. Since then, My Son
was decommissioned and no tower was built onsite anymore.

Be forgotten for hundreds of years, in
1898, this holly land was explored by a French scholar, and resorted from 1937
to 1944 by Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient. Unfortunately, this complex was
badly destroyed by American bombs in the war, and only 20 out of 32 remnants
still keep their original appearance today.

## Tour

Full-Day City & My Son Sanctuary Tour

Visit UNESCO-listed My Son Sanctuary and
the city of Hoi An on this day tour. Admire more than 70 ancient Hindu temples
and tombs, learn the history of the people of Champa, and see historic sites in
Hoi An's Old Quarter.

At your hotel, get acquainted with your
guide and begin your journey to the My Son Sanctuary ruins. As you drive
through the countryside, pass idyllic villages and lush natural landscape
before you arrive at My Son Sanctuary, a cluster of ancient temples dedicated
to the worship of the Hindu diety Shiva.

Cost: $80