My Son

If you have seen enough of the Japanese Bridge and Thanh Ha Pottery Village in Hoi An, why not take a short drive from the town to My Son? Though it is less famous than Angkor Wat in Cambodia, it's a fascinating complex of religious monuments originally comprised of 71 structures and 32 epitaphs. Once being the spiritual heart of the Champa Kingdom, My Son's first construction dates back to the 4^th century. But later, the spot was destroyed and rebuilt in the 7^th century. New emperors come to My Son to attend the ceremony of purification and order the construction of new monuments. That's why it is the only place that Cham art prospered in the following six centuries. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

My Son

Before you enter My Son, spend half an hour checking out the Champa Museum near the ticket office for the stories behind the site and artifacts. While inside the complex, you can see each group of temples was comprised of a main sanctuary, surrounded by towers and adjunctive monuments. Temples were built of bricks without the aid of mortar. Sculptures of gods, priests, animals, and scenes of mythical battles and devotion adorned the walls.  Offering and sacred items of pilgrims are placed on the top of the towers. It’s Lord Vishnu that these temples were built for worship.

On a side note, you may be interested in this 15-Day In-Depth Vietnam Tour with Sapa to visit My Son in person!