My Son Sanctuary 2026: Tickets, Hours & Guide from Hoi An

My Son Sanctuary (Thánh địa Mỹ Sơn) is a valley of ruined Hindu tower-temples built by the Champa kingdom between the 4th and 13th centuries, about 45 km west of Hoi An and 68 km from Da Nang. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, it was Champa’s main religious centre. Tickets cost 150,000 VND for foreign visitors.

Status (checked October 2026): open daily as normal. My Son is now in Thu Bon commune, Da Nang city (formerly Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province). The ticket is 150,000 VND for foreigners and 100,000 VND for Vietnamese visitors, with children aged 5–15 at 30,000 VND, and it covers the electric shuttle, the site museum and the Cham folk dance shows. A rise to 250,000 VND proposed in early 2026 had not taken effect as of October 2026, when the official ticket site still listed 150,000 VND. Some towers are fenced off for restoration.

Why My Son Sanctuary is worth seeing:

UNESCO World Heritage Site: listed in 1999 as a unique example of Champa culture and its links with Indian Hinduism.
Nine centuries of building: temples from the 4th to the 13th century in one jungle valley.
Mysterious brickwork: fired-brick towers fitted so tightly that how they were bonded is still debated.
Restored by India and Vietnam: groups A, H and K were restored with Indian experts in 2017–2022.
Cham dance performances: traditional music and dance included with your ticket.
A powerful war story: bomb craters and the ruined A1 tower show the damage of 1969.

My Son Sanctuary at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Thánh địa Mỹ Sơn (Khu đền tháp Mỹ Sơn)
Location	My Son village, Thu Bon commune, Da Nang city (formerly Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province)
Distance	About 45 km from Hoi An Ancient Town (about 1 hour), 68 km from central Da Nang (1.5 hours), 145 km from Hue
Known for	Champa Hindu tower-temples dedicated mainly to Shiva, sandstone carvings, Cham dance
Recognition	UNESCO World Heritage Site (1999, ref. 949)
Size	Property 142 ha, buffer zone 920 ha; 71 monuments recorded in 8 main groups
Opening hours	Daily from 6:00; ticket sales close at 17:30 and visitors must leave by 18:00
Entrance fee	150,000 VND foreigners; 100,000 VND Vietnamese; 30,000 VND children aged 5–15 (includes electric shuttle and Cham dance show)
Time needed	2–3 hours on site; half a day from Hoi An
Best time	February–April; arrive at opening time (6:00–7:00) or after 15:00
Nearby	Tra Kieu (ancient Simhapura), Thu Bon River, Hoi An, Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor · Official website · UNESCO

Is My Son Sanctuary Worth Visiting?

Yes, if you are interested in history and archaeology, it is the most important ancient site in Central Vietnam. Do not expect another Angkor: the towers are smaller and many are ruined. What makes My Son special is its setting in a green valley ringed by mountains, its age and the craftsmanship of the surviving towers. It is an easy half-day trip from Hoi An Ancient Town.

Best for: history and culture lovers, photographers, travellers who have seen Angkor or Bagan and want to compare.
Skip if: you dislike heat and ruins, or have only one day in Hoi An.
Short on time: focus on groups B, C and D (the best-preserved), then the restored groups A and H and the Cham dance show.

History of My Son Sanctuary

The holy valley of Champa

The Champa kingdom ruled much of central and southern Vietnam from the 2nd to the 17th century. Its early capital, Simhapura (today’s Tra Kieu), lay downstream on the Thu Bon River, and My Son was its sacred valley. In the late 4th century King Bhadravarman built the first temple here to Shiva as Bhadresvara. Wooden temples burned and were replaced from the 7th century onward by brick towers, and kings kept building and rebuilding until the 13th century.

Hinduism and Champa art

Most temples honour Shiva, often in the form of a linga, with some dedicated to Krishna and Vishnu. The site shows the influence of Indian Hinduism adapted to local beliefs, and art historians name whole styles after it, such as the 8th-century My Son E1 style and the 10th-century My Son A1 style. Wikipedia gives a detailed overview of the groups and styles.

Rediscovery and war damage

After Champa’s decline the valley was overgrown by forest. The Frenchman Camille Paris rediscovered it in 1898, and from 1899 Henri Parmentier of the French School of the Far East recorded 71 monuments and labelled them in groups (A, A’, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K and others). During the Vietnam War the area was heavily bombed; in August 1969 the great A1 tower, considered Champa’s masterpiece, was largely destroyed.

Restoration

Restoration began in the 1980s with Polish experts and has continued with international partners. Under an India–Vietnam agreement, the Archaeological Survey of India restored groups A, H and K between 2017 and 2022. In 2026 work continues on groups E and F with Indian support and on group L with Italian partners.

Ruined brick temples in the jungle valley of My Son Sanctuary — Many towers were damaged during the war, but the surviving temples remain impressive. Photo: Philip Nalangan, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

What to See at My Son Sanctuary

1. Groups B, C and D: the heart of the site

These groups hold the best-preserved towers. C1, a main temple, and the surrounding structures show finely carved brick, sandstone decoration and statues. The long halls of group D now house small displays of sculpture, lingas and altars.

2. Groups A and A’

Once dominated by the great A1 tower, this area is now a field of rubble after the 1969 bombing, partly reconstructed by the Indian restoration team. It is a moving reminder of what was lost.

3. Groups H and K

Restored with Indian experts, group K near the entrance path and group H on the hill show how the towers looked when they were consolidated.

4. Group G

Built in the 12th century in the later Binh Dinh style, group G stands on a hill and is one of the venues for Cham dance performances.

5. Groups E and F

Some of the oldest surviving work, including the 8th-century E1 style, is here. The famous E1 altar pedestal is now in the Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang; parts of these groups are under restoration in 2026.

6. Bomb craters and the valley

Walking between groups you pass bomb craters from the war, now grassy hollows, and views of the Cat’s Tooth mountain (Mahaparvata) rising over the valley.

7. Cham dance and music

Cham artists perform traditional dance and music several times a day at the performance house near the entrance and at group G, usually from mid-morning and again in the afternoon (outdoor shows may be cancelled in bad weather).

8. The exhibition hall

An exhibition building near the entrance introduces Champa history and the restoration of the site; see it first for context.

My Son Sanctuary Tickets and Opening Hours (2026)

Item	Price / hours	Notes
Foreign visitors	150,000 VND (about US$5.50–6)	Includes site entry, the electric shuttle, the My Son Museum and the Cham folk dance shows
Vietnamese visitors	100,000 VND	Same inclusions
Children aged 5–15	30,000 VND	Same inclusions; younger children free
On-site guide (optional)	100,000 VND per guide ticket	One ticket covers 1–5 visitors; book at the shuttle stop
Opening hours	Daily, from 6:00	Ticket sales close at 17:30; site closes 18:00
Cham dance shows	Several times daily	Mid-morning and afternoon; check times at the ticket office

Prices are set by the My Son World Heritage Management Board; check the official My Son Sanctuary website for the latest ticket price, opening hours and show schedule. Tickets can also be bought online through the official ticket system linked there.

How to Visit My Son Sanctuary, Step by Step

Leave Hoi An early (about 5:30–6:30) to arrive as the site opens.
Buy tickets at the ticket office and visit the exhibition hall.
Take the electric buggy from the entrance area towards the temples, then walk.
Start with groups K, B, C and D, then A and the hill groups G and H.
Watch a Cham dance show before you leave.
Return to Hoi An by road, or by boat down the Thu Bon River on some tours.

Rules and Etiquette at My Son Sanctuary

Do not climb on towers, walls or carvings; stay on marked paths.
Never leave the paths in the outer zone: unexploded ordnance remains a risk in the wider area.
Dress respectfully; some lingas and altars are still sacred to the Cham people.
Drones need permission.

How to Get to My Son Sanctuary

From	How	Time
Hoi An	Private car, taxi or Grab; shared tour bus; motorbike	About 1 hour (45 km)
Hoi An	Tour by road out and boat back on the Thu Bon River	Half day
Da Nang city	Private car or tour	About 1.5 hours (68 km)
Hue	Private car via Da Nang	About 3.5–4 hours (145 km)

There is no regular public bus that is practical for visitors. See our Hoi An transportation guide and Da Nang transport guide.

Best Time to Visit My Son Sanctuary

When	What to expect
February–April	Best season: dry, green and not yet too hot
May–August	Very hot in the valley; visit at opening time
September–December	Rainy season; paths can be muddy and storms may close the site briefly
6:00–8:30	Cool, misty light and few visitors
After 15:00	Quieter again, softer light

Local Expert Tips for My Son Sanctuary

These tips come from years of arranging Hoi An tours for international travellers.

A good guide makes a huge difference here: the stories behind the ruins are what bring them to life.
Bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and water; there is little shade between groups.
Visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang before or after to see the finest carvings from My Son.
Choose a sunrise visit to avoid tour buses that arrive from about 9:00.
Combine with lunch in Hoi An and an afternoon at An Bang Beach.

My Son Sanctuary vs Po Nagar Cham Towers

Feature	My Son Sanctuary	Po Nagar Cham Towers
Location	Jungle valley 45 km from Hoi An	Hill in Nha Trang city
Status	UNESCO World Heritage Site, largely ruined	Well-preserved towers, still an active temple
Scale	71 recorded monuments in many groups	A small group of towers
Time needed	2–3 hours plus travel	About 1 hour

Our view: My Son is the more important and atmospheric site; Po Nagar is easier to visit and shows Cham worship still alive. On a Central Vietnam trip, My Son is the one not to miss.

Nearby Attractions

Hoi An Ancient Town: the UNESCO-listed trading port, 45 km away.
Thanh Ha Pottery Village: on the way back to Hoi An.
Museum of Cham Sculpture: the world’s largest collection of Cham art, in Da Nang.
Marble Mountains: caves and pagodas between Hoi An and Da Nang.
Bay Mau Coconut Forest: an easy afternoon add-on near Hoi An.

Sightseeing around Hoi An for First-Time Visitors: Where My Son Sanctuary Fits

With two or three days in Hoi An, give My Son an early morning: back by lunch, then explore the Japanese Covered Bridge and old houses later in the afternoon. Staying in Da Nang? Combine My Son with Hoi An in one long day, or see our Da Nang destination guide.

Plan your trip with our Hoi An travel guide and Hoi An and My Son tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions about My Son Sanctuary

1. What is My Son Sanctuary?

My Son Sanctuary is a valley of Hindu tower-temples built by the Champa kingdom from the 4th to the 13th century, listed by UNESCO in 1999.

2. Where is My Son Sanctuary?

My Son Sanctuary is in Thu Bon commune, Da Nang city (formerly Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province), about 45 km west of Hoi An.

3. How much is the My Son Sanctuary ticket in 2026?

The My Son Sanctuary ticket is 150,000 VND for foreign visitors and 100,000 VND for Vietnamese, and 30,000 VND for children aged 5–15; it includes the electric shuttle, the site museum and the Cham folk dance shows. A proposed rise to 250,000 VND had not taken effect as of October 2026.