My Son Sanctuary from Da Nang and Hoi An: how to get there, when to go and what to see

What is My Son?

My Son was the main religious centre of the Champa kingdom: its temple towers were built between the 4th and 13th centuries. UNESCO inscribed the sanctuary on the World Heritage List in 1999. The sanctuary's own site speaks of more than 70 structures; some were lost in the war and the rest are being restored. The red-brick buildings stand among forest in a valley about 2 km across.

Where is My Son and how long does it take from Da Nang?

My Son is in My Son village, Thu Bồn commune, Da Nang city (formerly Duy Phú, Duy Xuyên district, Quảng Nam province). The sanctuary's site gives 68 km from central Da Nang; other sources say 69–70 km. The drive takes over an hour each way; with stops and queues, plan half a day. Plan half a day to a day.

How long does it take from Hoi An?

From Hoi An it is 40–50 km — sources give different numbers. By car or motorbike from Hoi An it is 1.5–2 hours. Hoi An old town and My Son work well in one day: My Son in the morning, Hoi An after lunch. The road between Da Nang and Hoi An is covered in Da Nang to Hoi An.

What are the opening hours?

My Son is open daily from about 6:30 to 17:00–17:30: some sources give 17:00 as closing, others 17:30, and some say the gate opens at 6:00. If you plan to arrive near closing, call the sanctuary's hotline listed on mysonsanctuary.com.vn: 0235.3731.309. The calmest plan is to arrive in the morning and finish before lunch.

How do you get from the entrance to the temples?

It is about 1 km from the entrance to the temples along a forest road; electric shuttle cars run for those who prefer not to walk. One source says 2 km, so plan 1–2 km of walking each way and bring water. Inside the valley you walk the paths between the groups. The sanctuary has audio guides and QR codes in six languages — Vietnamese, English, French, Korean, Japanese and Chinese; Russian is not on the list.

What is there to see at My Son?

Groups B, C and D are in the most intact condition: B holds the complex's main tower, C a square temple, and D has reliefs and finds. Group A had the tallest and most richly decorated tower, but tower A1 was destroyed in the 1969 bombing and only foundations and ruins remain. US bombing in 1969 and 1972 badly damaged the sanctuary, so you will see craters and rubble beside the paths.

When are the Cham dance shows?

Cham dance is performed in the daytime by the temples; according to MIA.vn (30 Jul 2026) shows run around 9:30, 10:45, 14:30 and 15:30, about 20 minutes each. Green SM (5 Feb 2025) also says performances take place daily. We did not find a schedule on the sanctuary's site, so check the board at the entrance and do not cut it close for the last show. An evening show, Night of Legendary My Son, was launched in 2022, first once a month on the 16th day of the lunar month. We do not know whether it runs now — ask on the hotline.

What time of day should you arrive?

The ideal window is 7:00–9:00: cooler, few people and soft light for photos; MIA.vn advises avoiding 11:00–14:00. There is little shade in the valley, so bring water and a hat in hot weather.

Which season suits a visit?

Green SM names February to April as the ideal season. From September to December it rains: MIA.vn says paths are slippery and muddy from late September to late November. Check the forecast before a rainy-season trip and leave extra time for the road.

How do you get there by car or Grab?

From Da Nang and Hoi An you can take Grab, Green SM (formerly Xanh SM) or a taxi; for taxis in the city see taxis in Da Nang. Agree in advance whether the driver waits and for how many hours, so you are not hunting for a ride back in the valley.

Can you go by motorbike?

From Hoi An it is 1.5–2 hours by motorbike; from Da Nang longer. Before renting a bike, read motorbike rental in Da Nang: it has a separate guide on licences and insurance, which we do not cover here. If you do not want to drive yourself, see tours and travel agencies in Da Nang: MIA.vn says group tours to My Son run from Hoi An.

What should you wear and bring?

Modest clothing — the sanctuary is a religious site, so cover shoulders and knees. Sturdy shoes for forest paths and steps. Bring water, a hat, sun protection and, in the rainy season, a light rain jacket. Do not climb on the ruins or touch artefacts.

Frequently asked questions

Is My Son a UNESCO site? Yes, My Son Sanctuary was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999.

How far is My Son from Da Nang? 68–70 km. Allow over an hour each way and half a day to a day for the whole trip.

How far is it from Hoi An? 40–50 km, about 1.5–2 hours by car or motorbike.

What are the opening hours? Roughly 6:30 to 17:00–17:30 daily. Call before you go: 0235.3731.309.

Do you have to walk from the entrance? It is about 1 km to the temples; an electric shuttle is available if you prefer not to walk.

When should you visit? 7:00–9:00 in the morning; the season is February to April. From September to December it rains and paths can be slippery.

What happened to the temples in the war? The sanctuary was bombed in 1969 and 1972; tower A1 in group A was destroyed, while groups B, C and D are more intact.

Sources and checking

UNESCO inscription year — vietnam.travel (page Mystic My Son); whc.unesco.org was unavailable when we tried, and the year matches a search summary of it. Distance from Da Nang and Hoi An, address, hotline — mysonsanctuary.com.vn. Hours, dance, rainy season, temple groups and shuttle — MIA.vn (30 Jul 2026), Green SM (5 Feb 2025) and vietnam.travel. The 1969 and 1972 bombing — vietnam.travel; destruction of tower A1 — MIA.vn. The 2022 evening show — VnExpress (25 Mar 2022). We do not list prices. All pages opened on 22 October 2026. Text updated 22 Oct 2026.