My Son Sanctuary – Vietnam's Ancient Hindu Kingdom

My Son Sanctuary is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Quang Nam Province, 50 km southwest of Da Nang and 40 km from Hoi An. It is the most important monument of the Cham civilisation – the ancient Hindu kingdom that dominated Central and Southern Vietnam from the 2nd to the 17th century. The sanctuary contains over 70 temples and towers, mostly built between the 7th and 13th centuries and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Although many were damaged during the Vietnam War, the remaining structures are richly decorated with sandstone carvings. My Son is best visited in the morning to beat the heat and crowds, and is most commonly paired with a Hoi An day tour. Traditional Cham dance performances are staged daily at the site.