My Son Sanctuary Day Trip

Group B is the main temple complex and the most sacred area of My Son. The central tower (kalan) was the principal sanctuary of the entire site, dedicated to the lingam-yoni — the Hindu symbol of Shiva that represented the divine power of the Champa kings. The surrounding structures include meditation halls, a repository for sacred texts, and smaller towers for secondary deities. Group B has the most elaborate carvings and decorative elements, including exquisite sandstone relief work depicting Hindu mythological scenes, dancers, and celestial beings. Despite extensive bomb damage during the Vietnam War (American forces targeted the area, believing the Viet Cong were using the temples as a base), enough remains to convey the grandeur and spiritual power of the original complex. The French archaeologist Henri Parmentier documented Group B extensively in the early 1900s, and his photographs show structures that were later destroyed — a sobering reminder of what was lost.

Adjacent to Group B, Group C contains some of the best-preserved structures at My Son. The main tower here is relatively intact and gives the clearest sense of what a complete Cham temple looked like — a tapering brick tower with sandstone decorative elements, false doors, and carved lintels. The brick construction technique of the Cham is one of My Son's great mysteries — the bricks were assembled without visible mortar, yet have held together for centuries, and scholars still debate exactly how the Cham achieved this. The carvings on the Group C structures include images of Garuda (the eagle mount of Vishnu), makara (sea creatures), and intricate floral patterns that show the sophistication of Cham artistic traditions.

Group D consists of two long, mandapa-style buildings that served as meditation and assembly halls. Today, they house a small on-site museum with a collection of Cham artifacts — carved lintels, statues, and architectural fragments recovered from the ruins. The museum provides helpful context before you explore the more dramatic temple groups. A lingam-yoni sculpture, several Shiva reliefs, and fragments of dancing apsara figures are among the highlights. Group D is typically the first stop on the walking route and serves as an excellent introduction to Cham art and symbolism.

The outer groups are more heavily damaged (Group A was largely destroyed by American bombing in 1969) but still worth exploring for the atmospheric setting — temples emerging from the surrounding jungle, tree roots growing through ancient brickwork, and the sense of an entire sacred city gradually being reclaimed by nature. These groups receive fewer visitors and offer a more contemplative, less crowded experience. The walking paths between the outer groups pass through shaded forest, providing welcome relief from the sun. Group A, despite its destruction, retains the base platform of what was once My Son's largest and most impressive tower.