More than 32 temples and towers define the My Son Relic Site, an architectural complex in Da Nang. The My Son Sanctuary was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. In the broader context of Vietnam, its history spans from the 4th to the 13th century AD. The temple towers illustrate a site that served as the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence. Here, you can encounter Champa history through both its architecture and its historical role.
Cham heritage in buildings and collections
From the main entrance to the My Son Relic Site, a 1 km path leads to the central area. This gives you a clear point of reference for getting around the site. At the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, you can explore the subject through objects: the collection includes more than 300 artefacts, including national treasures. Many pieces reflect the flourishing of Champa sculpture from the 5th to the 15th century. The collection is arranged across twelve geographical rooms and four thematic galleries.
The museum is located in the heart of Da Nang. While the temples and towers at My Son offer an architectural perspective on Cham heritage, the museum focuses on artefacts and their geographical and thematic arrangement. Those interested in Champa art and history can explore different aspects at each place without conflating the two.
Marble Mountains and Thuy Son
The Marble Mountains are named after the five elements: metal, water, wood, fire and earth. On Thuy Son, the complex includes nine caves as well as five pagodas and towers. A lift is available for visitors to reach the summit of Thuy Son; a separate ticket is required. Check the arrangements before your trip.
The Avalokitesvara Festival in the Marble Mountains is another reason to visit. It is held annually and usually lasts three days, from the 17th to the 19th day of the second lunar month. If you’re planning to attend, check the specific Gregorian dates for your travel year: the festival dates follow the lunar calendar.
Coast, forest and wildlife
My Khe Beach stretches south of the mountainous Son Tra Peninsula. The peninsula’s highest point reaches 696 metres, and it also encompasses 4,370 hectares of primary forest. Nearly 300 rare red-shanked doucs live there, although sightings are not guaranteed. Da Nang thus offers a range of landscapes, from the beach to the mountainous peninsula with its forest and wildlife.
Distinctive bridges and different experiences
The Dragon Bridge is a six-lane bridge with a distinctive dragon structure. At night, the dragon is illuminated with LED lights. The Golden Bridge in Bà Nà has a different design: two giant hands hold up the bridge, rising out of the mountain forest.
Another focus is on games: Fantasy Park in Bà Nà Hills offers more than 100 different games for all age groups. This gives you distinct options: striking bridge designs on the one hand and a wide range of games on the other. You can choose Da Nang experiences based on the themes that interest you most.
Discover more destinations: Đà Nẵng, Quy Nhơn, Sóc Trăng, tt. Giồng Trôm, Ho Chi Minh, Hòa Bình, Bac Lieu, Gia Lai
Return to the main travel overview: Vietnam.
