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This excursion by vehicle is a great way to spend the day and one of the “must do” activities when visiting Hoi An and Central Vietnam. Most people are aware of the fantastic temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and these temples at My Son date from the same period and are from the same indigenous group of people.
The My Son remnants are considered the largest and most holy temple complex of the Champa Kingdom in the south central coastal area. The complex is comparable to other great structures which bear the hallmarks of Indian civilization in the Southeast Asian region.
Located 68 km (42 miles) southwest of Hoi An, My Son lies in an emerald circular valley about 2 kilometers in diameter. Our drive by vehicle takes us about an hour and a half to reach the site. It is surrounded by hills and mountains.
Construction work went on from the 4th to the 13th centuries and the temples were dedicated to Shiva. The site was abandoned by the 15th century when the Cham people moved south.
My Son at one stage boasted 71 brick and stone structures. Regretfully, the complex was heavily damaged by warfare and, as a result, there remain only 32 ancient towers, of which only 20 have their original figures kept relatively intact. The relief carvings depicting deities, human beings or animal creatures are what are most interesting here. You may also like to ponder how the Cham craftsmen put all the bricks together without using any mortar - many researchers are baffled.
This excursion includes a snack at the temple, and a leisurely approach is taken. You won’t be grouped together with a bus full of other tourists, and one can take their time in fully exploring the temples and area around them.
| Depart From: | Hoi An - 62 Ba Trieu Street or pick up at your hotel |
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| End At: | Hoi An - 62 Ba Trieu Street or drop off at your hotel |
| Start Time: | 8:00am or 1:30pm |
| Finish Time: | Typically 12:30am or 5:30pm |
| Duration: | 4 hours |
| Departure Days | Daily |
| Activities: | Vehicle ride, light walking around the temples |
| Transportation: | A/C vehicle |
| Meals: | Snack, purified drinking water |
| What to Bring: | Sunscreen, camera, sport shoes |
| What is included: | English speaking guide, all tourist permits, first aid kit, entrance fees to My Son, meal and transport as listed above. |
| What is not included: | Personal major medical including evacuation insurance coverage is recommended. |
Price: $35/person
This excursion takes you north to a fantastic complex of caves and temples set amongst marble cliffs over the ocean. This is a great chance to explore on foot one of the more unusual and impressive cultural sites in Vietnam. We also make a stop at the Cham Museum to round out the activities for the day, and get a bit more insight to the history of the area.
Marble Moutain is 25 km (15 miles) away from Hoi An to the North, and stands out from the landscape as majestic granite mountains adjacent to the shore. It was rumored that this was an eggshell of the dragon king left behind after the birth of a beautiful princess. At the beginning of the 19th century, King Gia Long, when passing by this region, named these mountains after the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth.
We depart by vehicle from Hoi An and drive about 30 to 45 minutes. Once at the site we start with a long climb up a staircase leading to Linh Ung pagoda. There are numerous cave temples to explore and vistas to take in. The area commands an impressive view of the coast below and was used by guerilla fighters during the Vietnamese War.
After hiking around the area for a couple of hours, a good appetite should be worked up and we have a picnic lunch arranged.
| Depart From: | Hoi An - 62 Ba Trieu Street or pick up at your hotel |
|---|---|
| End At: | Hoi An - 62 Ba Trieu Street or drop off at your hotel |
| Start Time: | 8:00am or 1:00pm |
| Finish Time: | Typically 12:00noon or 6:00pm |
| Duration: | Approximately 4 to 5 hours |
| Departure Days | Daily |
| Activities: | Light trekking and sight seeing |
| Transportation: | A/C vehicle |
| Meals: | Snack, purified drinking water |
| What to Bring: | Sunscreen, camera, sport shoes. Sandals are not recommended. |
| What is included: | English speaking guide, all necessary tourist permits, first aid kit, entrance fees to Marble Mountain and Cham Museum, meal and transport as listed above. |
| What is not included: | Personal major medical including evacuation insurance coverage is recommended. |
Price: $35/person