MY SON TEMPLES

The My Son Temple site is very popular and attracts many tourists. Unlike many other temples you may visit, the My Son Sanctuary is definitely worth the trip.  Lost in the middle of a natural circus at the foot of the Cat Tooth Mountains, surrounded by a magnificent natural environment.

Our itinerary takes you far beyond the visit to the temples and has been specially designed to make your day simply unforgettable.

Together, we will travel 30km on flat, quiet roads with little or no traffic with occasional short breaks to stop and meet the locals.

During our visit, one of the local families will welcome you into their traditionally made wooden home—a rare opportunity to learn more about the customs and traditions of Vietnamese families in this region first-hand.

Along the way, we will make stops in an ancient « silk weaving » village. Unlike the Hoi An “silk village” tourist trap, this “authentic” village has now converted to cotton weaving. This will be your chance to meet a family of weavers and see their work, made by using weaving looms dating from the colonial era.

A stop in a small, local market is the ideal moment to see the produce typical of the countryside and (if you’re brave enough) do some tasting, or not!

These are just a few of the surprises that await you along your tour.

JOIN US FOR A DAY FILLED WITH SURPRISES AND DISCOVERIES!

OUR PROGRAM

The meeting point is at our office (61 Ngo Quyen).

After your check-in, our team will help you select a bicycle for your tour among the different models and sizes available. They will recommend the bike best suited to your body type and adjust it for you (seat, height, handlebars, etc.).

At 7h30, we will set out on a minibus for the 1-hour ride to the My Son temple site. Our visit to the sanctuary will begin around 8h30.

We are often asked why we start so early.

There are two simple reasons for this:

• 1. Tourists: The My Son site attracts many, many tourists.  Therefore, we organize our visit before the numerous tour buses arrive with masses of tourists, so you can take full advantage of the tranquility of the site during your visit in the absence of other tourists.
• 2. Heat: In the early morning, the heat is still bearable, especially during the summer months. You will find it more pleasant to visit this site in the early morning.

Your guide will accompany you during the entire visit and explain the secrets, history and legends that surround the temples and the people who built them.

After the visit, we will set out on bicycles along the small country roads, making stops along the way to do some sightseeing and take photos of the magnificent scenery in this region.

You will enjoy lunch in a small local « restaurant ».

At the end of the cycle route, we will embark on a relaxing 1-hour boat ride along the Thu Bon River, taking you directly to Hoi An, only 50 meters from our office.

If you are interested in this bicycle tour, but not in visiting the My Son Temple site, we recommend the “Adventure Vietnam” tour, which encompasses a part of this itinerary, but will take you much further.

ABOUT THE MY SON TEMPLES AND THE CHAM PEOPLE

Artifacts from the Cham civilization date back to the second century AD.

The Cham people lived in the southern part of Vietnam and conflicted with the kingdom of the Dai Viet (the Vietnamese) and the Khmers for several centuries. They also suffered under the Chinese to whom they donated a tribe.

Their civilization declined in the 15th century. Today, only 200,000 Chams are living near Phan Thiet. (Numbers vary depending on the source)

The temples of My Son were built by the Cham people between the 7th and 15th centuries. After having fallen into oblivion and being covered by the jungle, they were rediscovered by the French explorer, Camille Paris in 1889.

Surrounded by mountains, this sacred sanctuary was reserved for kings. It consisted of 75 temples, a large majority of which were destroyed by bombing during the war with the Americans.

Still, very little is known about this civilization, and discoveries continue. We keep abreast of this research so we can provide you with the most recent information on the archaeologists' findings during your visit.

My Son remains an essential destination to visit during your stay in Vietnam.

RECEIVE A SOUVENIR GIFT BOOKLET OF THE HISTORY OF THE CHAMS AND TEMPLES OF MY SON.