The historical landmark of My SonNestled deep in a valley surrounded by towering mountains and forests, completely isolatedfrom the hustle and bustle of the city, My Son Sanctuary ( Da Nang City) exudes a sacred andancient atmosphere, clearly reflecting the unique characteristics of the Cham Pa culture frommillennia ago.In the past, My Son was a place where people offered sacrifices and also housed the tombs ofthe Champa kings of that era.Built in the 4th century by the Champa king Bhadresvara, this temple was initiallyconstructed to worship the gods Shiva and Linga. It also served as a burial place for powerfulkings and enlightened monks of Champa.But two centuries later, the temple suffered a major fire and was completely destroyed. Itwasn’t until the early 7th century that King Sambhuvarman rebuilt it with bricks. Since then, ithas been continuously repaired and preserved to this day.In 1999, the My Son Sanctuary was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Sincethen, My Son has been included in the list of famous tourist destinations in Central Vietnam,attracting hundreds of visitors.My Son Sanctuary Hidden GemsThe art of carving directly onto bricks is also a pinnacle of creativity of the ancient Chamcraftsmen. Photo: kienthucvui.vnThe mystery of the ancient Champa people’s brick tower construction techniques.The My Son Sanctuary complex is a testament to the worship of Hindu deities, especiallyShiva, and the flourishing of a civilization that once thrived on the shores of the East Sea.However, what amazes tourists and archaeologists most is that the brick towers haveremained standing for thousands of years despite the complete absence of any visible tracesof binding material.The art of carving directly onto bricks is also a pinnacle of creativity of the ancient Chamcraftsmen.Instead of carving on separate stone slabs and then assembling them, the Cham peopletypically built the basic structure with bricks first, and then artisans directly carved images ofdeities, Apsara dancers, or intricate vine patterns onto the brick wall surface.This requires absolute precision and extremely uniform quality of bricks to prevent crumblingduring construction. These reliefs, not only decorative but also a means of conveyingconcepts of cosmology and Hindu mythology, transform each tower into a symbol of thelegendary Mount Meru – the abode of the gods.Ancient Cham architecture at My Son Sanctuary. Photo: ITN Photo: kienthucvui.vnHaving endured the devastating effects of war and natural disasters, the My Son Sanctuarynow retains only a small fraction of its original scale, but what remains is still enough forhumanity to bow before a transcendent architectural genius.
Current conservation efforts are being carried out with the support of international experts,particularly through a combination of manual restoration techniques and 3D laser scanningtechnologies to preserve the original state of the tower complexes.Today, My Son is not just a historical ruin, but an open-air museum that tells the story of thepower of spiritual belief and the human ability to master materials, forever remaining asource of pride for Vietnam’s and the world’s cultural heritage.Visit: Vietnam Itinerary for 6 Days