Tickets
Hotels
Tours
Insurance
Trains
VietnamDescription and is it worth visiting
My Son Ruins (My Son Sanctuary) sometimes written and pronounced as "Mison", "Myson", and "Maishon", which is not entirely correct, although locals are mostly accustomed to any pronunciation and will understand you anyway.
My Son Ruins are the most important and, in our opinion, the most extensive and spectacular historical architectural park in all of Vietnam, on the site of an abandoned temple complex from the time of the Champa Kingdom, which was once located on the territory of present-day Vietnam. It was built and used from the 4th to the 13th centuries AD, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Then the temples were forgotten for many centuries until restoration began in the 20th century. In 1999, My Son was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The history of this place during their use was very eventful: religious ceremonies were held here with the participation of monarchs of the kingdom, famous and outstanding people of that time. There were a huge number of temples and other religious buildings here, at one time there were as many as 70. The complex is still really large; visiting it will take at least a couple of hours not counting travel. Moreover, archaeological excavations and restoration work are being carried out here, and new objects are being opened for inspection.
Therefore, let us immediately express our opinion on whether it is worth visiting My Son. We believe it is definitely worth visiting, especially if you are vacationing in Da Nang or Hoi An. Moreover, this place is worth even coming from Nha Trang. We dare say that in terms of significance and scale, My Son is like Angkor Wat for Cambodia or Ayutthaya for Thailand. Look at our photos and video about visiting My Son, and this is only a small part of what you will see here:
How to visit My Son ruins
At the entrance to the complex, in a separate building, there is a museum with archaeological artifacts, documents and photos of excavations, maps and descriptions (in English). It is definitely worth spending time in the museum before heading to the ruins. It is free to visit.
On the back of the ticket there is a map by which you can explore this place. A guide is not necessary; you can explore everything on your own, only you cannot break the rules: do not climb the ruins, do not break them, do not draw, etc. The temples on the map are divided into groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, L, but not all of them are available for viewing, and inside some there are even exhibitions with artifacts. If you explore this place on your own, we advise you to download the map apps Maps Me or Organic Maps, and points from our map.
Also on the territory of the complex there is a cultural center where at certain times they show a traditional Cham show with dances and songs. It is definitely worth watching. It is shown every day except Monday at 09:30, 10:30 and 14:30, but the schedule may change; you can check it on the official website before your trip. The cultural center is located right on the way from the entrance to the ruins; you simply cannot miss it.
To make it easier for you to navigate My Son Park, here is the visiting algorithm:
- At the large parking lot at the entrance, buy a ticket at the ticket office building.
- Go through control and walk a couple of minutes to the museum building.
- After visiting the museum, you need to cross the bridge to the electric car parking lot.
- Get on the first arriving electric car; it will take you to the final point (a 2-3 minute ride).
- From this point it is a few hundred meters to the pavilion where the traditional show is held on schedule.
- After watching the show (if you catch it on time), you can go further to explore the ruins at your leisure, and then return to the electric car final stop and drive back to the museum building and then a short walk to the ticket office and exit.
🌐 Website: https://disanvanhoamyson.vn
🕐 Opening hours
Open daily, including holidays, in summer from 05:30 to 17:00, in winter from 06:00 to 17:00. The music show is held every day except Monday at 09:30, 10:30 and 14:30.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket prices
Payment at the ticket office is cash only. Adults - 150,000 dong (5.7 USD), children under 15 years old - 30,000 dong (1.14 USD). You can buy tickets with payment by Russian card online on the trip.com website. We checked, it works and is convenient. Discounted tickets for children are purchased only at the ticket offices.
The cost of a one-day tour to My Son from Hoi An starts from 300,000 dong (11.4 USD), from Da Nang from 330,000 dong (12.54 USD), but these are the cheapest tours without entrance ticket costs and a guide.
🚶 How to get there
My Son is located 80 km from Da Nang and 60 km from Hoi An (My Son ruins on the map). Usually, My Son is visited from Da Nang or Hoi An, which is easiest to do as part of a group tour. You can buy tours from street agencies in Da Nang and Hoi An, or online on websites:
Be careful when choosing so as not to make a mistake with the tour option that suits you. The cheapest tours actually only include minivan transportation to the ruins, waiting, and the trip back. If you need escort and a guide's story, then you need to choose more expensive tours.
From Da Nang and Hoi An independently, you will have to get there by rented transport or taxi. Renting a motorbike for one day will cost from 100,000 dong (3.8 USD), and for a taxi one way you will have to pay from 500,000 dong (19 USD), but you need to bargain. At the entrance to the complex there is a large parking lot; they ask for 5,000 dong for motorbike parking under supervision, or you can leave it for free in an empty spot.
More photos of My Son
