My Son Sanctuary Mini-Guide for First-Timers (2026)

The My Son Sanctuary is one of nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam. Its ruins date back to the 4th through 13th centuries. This is an excellent half-day trip from Da Nang or Hoi An.

During the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong used the ruins as a base of operations. As such, the area saw many conflicts and was the target of bombs. Restorations and improvements are underway. I’ve seen a lot of work and repairs going on during my visits.

I rode my scooter here from Hoi An again the other day. I have to say that visiting the ruins is such a peaceful experience — I highly recommend it if you’re planning to visit Da Nang or Hoi An. You can read more about the sanctuary’s history here.

My advice: Try to visit earlier in the day, before it gets too hot. But, there is excellent tree shade if it rains or is too sunny. There are also places to buy drinks and plenty of places to sit if you need a breather.

For more things to do, this guide covers Da Nang, and this one covers Hoi An. If you have questions about visiting My Son Sanctuary, ask them in my free Hoi An, Da Nang, and Hue travel Facebook group.

My Son Sanctuary Visitor Info

Location	Google Maps
Official Website	My Son Sanctuary
Hours	6 AM to 6 PM (ticket office closes at 5 PM)
Cost	150.000 VND (Adult), 30.000 (5 to 15), FREE (Under 5)
Payments	Currently, only cash is accepted
Audio Guide	App available for 70.000 VND per ticket
Scooter Parking	5.000 VND (in the official lot)
How to Get There	Join a tour or use the Grab app (download here)
Best Time to Visit*	March, April, May
How Long to Stay	Plan to spend at least 2 hours

Is My Son Sanctuary Worth Visiting?

Yes, My Son Sanctuary is 100% worth visiting, especially if you’re already planning to visit Da Nang or Hoi An. It’s one of only nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam (as of now). The sanctuary makes a great half-day trip from Da Nang or Hoi An. If you go in the morning, you’ll be back by early afternoon.

A cool bonus is that an electric shuttle chauffeurs visitors to and from the front entrance and the ruins area. The ride is free with a ticket purchase. Here’s a video of my shuttle ride from the ticket entrance to the start of the ruins.

The ride is about three minutes long. It’s a great way to start and end your journey at the My Son ruins. It makes you feel like you’re riding deep into the site. Then, on the way out, it feels like you’re emerging from the site.

The staff members inside the ruins are very friendly. There are no hawkers or anyone forcibly trying to sell anything. It’s just a great, peaceful experience.

My Experiences Visiting My Son Sanctuary

FYI: 🚴‍♀️ They recently added bicycle rentals inside the ruins for 30.000 VND each.

In each of my visits, I was very surprised at how pleasant it was. The ruins and the walking paths are incredibly peaceful and well-maintained. Between some of the ruins, there’s hardly any noise other than birds and the wind. You’ll notice groundskeepers and gardeners throughout the ruins.

The site is one big loop, with offshoots to different ruins. Many of them require climbing stairs. The loop path is very peaceful. It cuts through the woods between the different ruins. You can really take your time wandering the trails, ruins, and grounds.

Here’s another video I filmed of just some of the ruins at My Son Sanctuary.

Along the paths, there are a few shops where you can buy cold drinks. There are some places to eat, too. The grounds are pretty clean, with garbage bins along the paths. There are also bathrooms in a few areas around the complex.

I noticed tons of butterflies and dragonflies throughout my visits to the sanctuary. There are some parts where you’re walking through the woods on a stone path with nothing or no one around for a while. Just a lot of silence.

I was surprised not to see any other critters — snakes, mainly. I’ve not seen a single one during my visits. But it definitely feels like a place where a random snake would cross the path.

Besides the actual ruins, there’s a small, free museum just inside the initial entrance, before taking the electric cart to the ruins. There’s also a daily performance inside a hall near the ruins, with four shows in the morning and three in the afternoon.

Overall, visiting My Son Sanctuary is a great half-day trip and one of the best things to do if you’re in Da Nang or Hoi An.

It takes about an hour to get here from Da Nang or Hoi An, and I would plan to spend about 2 hours here. You could easily spend more than 2 hours if you’re not in a rush or plan to see one of the performances.

Getting to My Son Sanctuary from Da Nang or Hoi An

The ride to My Son Sanctuary is about 1 hour, no matter if you’re coming from Da Nang or Hoi An. You can visit independently, either with a taxi or your own scooter, or join a tour (either group or private). If you ride your own scooter, there’s an official lot right near the entrance for 5.000 VND.

If you want to visit independently, I recommend using the Grab app. The sanctuary is a popular attraction, so you won’t have any issues ordering a ride there, then another one after you’re finished. There are a bunch of taxi and Grab drivers hanging around the parking lot outside.

I personally rode my scooter during my visits. On one occasion, I rode from Old Town in Hoi An to My Son, then from My Son to Da Nang. On another visit, I rode from An Bang Beach to My Son and back to Hoi An again.

For tours (with group and private options), here’s a popular one and here’s another good choice. When you’re looking at My Son tours, be mindful of pickup and drop-off points. Some will pick up in Da Nang (for an added fee), even though they originate in Hoi An.