Vietnam’s answer to Angkor Wat is a less grand but newly restored ancient Hindu temple complex near Hoi An that was seat of the Champa kingdom
- My Son, a cluster of towers in what was the seat of the Champa empire, has been spruced up, its crumbling towers fortified and intricate Hindu carvings cleaned
- Authorities hope visitors to nearby tourist hub Hoi An will also be drawn to the Unesco World Heritage site, with English tours and audio guides available
At the foot of a steep peak, red-brick temple towers stand out from their jungle setting. These lofty structures, some embellished with bas-relief images depicting Hindu legends, are among more than 70 monuments that embody a fallen empire.
They have been newly spruced up as part of a multi-year restoration project.
About 1,700 years ago, the Champa kingdom chose this site, in what is now Central Vietnam, for its imposing headquarters. The My Son Sanctuary was the political and religious capital of the Champa from the 4th to 13th centuries.
This empire controlled a swathe of what is now Vietnam, having been established in the late 2nd century by the Dua clan, which united an array of Cham clans.
Although Champa became heavily influenced by Buddhism, its state religion was Hinduism, which explains the epic mythological scenes carved into structures at My Son, which has towers dedicated to Indian deities Vishnu, Krishna and Shiva.
