Best of My Son, Vietnam

Posted on 2010-10-16

by Mat Siems

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The My Son archaeological site, located in the Quang Nam Province, some 50 kilometres from the magnificent Hoi An is one of the top destination when visiting central Vietnam. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the remaining of the Champa kingdom. This imperial city was built between the 4th and 12th century AD and once served as the capital of the Cham dynasty. It is believed that during that period, this religious sanctuary was the Holy Land of the Cham people.

Best of My Son, Vietnam

My Son topics

Introduction to My Son
About My Son
My Son Architecture
Conclusion
Photographs of My Son

About My Son

The site itself spreads for many kilometres within a dense jungle, surrounded by verdant hills and with clear streams running between the structures. This large complex is divided into 4 main sections comprising of more than 70 architectural works. Today only 3 of the enigmatic ruins can be viewed by the general public as the remaining sections are reserved for the archaeological team.

Best of My Son, Vietnam

My Son Architecture

Best of My Son, Vietnam

My Son masterpiece is a perfect reminder of the power and culture of the Cham empire and remain to that day a powerful symbol in Southeast Asia. Its architecture is a perfect mix of Chinese and Indian influence. One of the main Cham design component was the tower built to reflect the divinity of the king. Before it was bombed during the Vietnam war, the most famous tower of the complex stood 24 meters (75 feet) tall, with amazing sandstone carved images of various animals such as lions and elephants.

Conclusion

My Son is often compared to the other remarkable South East Asian archaeological jewels such as the Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia, and rightly so, as it truly represent the grandeur of the past Cham empire. It is a shame however, that the war destroyed so much and only about 20 of the original 70 structures remains intact. On a more positive note a major restoration project is currently underway.