The My Son Sanctuary is one of the best-known day trips you can take from Hoi An.
The Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary lies in central Vietnam, in Quảng Nam province. It sits in a valley ringed by mountains, roughly 40 kilometers west of Hội An and about 69 kilometers southwest of Da Nang.
Here we walk through the different options for getting there in the best way possible.
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Day trip to My Son Sanctuary from Hoi An
Without doubt, the most popular option among tourists visiting Hoi An is to go on a tour.
These trips normally include round-trip transport to the sanctuary, the entrance ticket and a guide, usually in English.
The upside is that you save all the prep time and the hassle, and you go with someone who explains the site to you. The downside is that the schedules on these tours are set in advance with no room to change them — though they normally give you more than enough time to explore the area.
We recommend taking a tour first thing in the morning or at sunset to avoid the intense heat and have a far more exclusive experience at the ruins.
It’s without doubt the best way to reach My Son if you’d rather not complicate things.
You can book tours at any agency or accommodation in Hoi An or Da Nang, or if you like having it planned ahead you can book online here.
Klook.comHow to get to My Son Sanctuary from Hoi An on your own
Getting to My Son Sanctuary by motorbike
If you’re the type who prefers the freedom of visiting places at your own pace, or you simply don’t fancy a tour, the most common option for reaching the sanctuary is renting a motorbike.
Renting a motorbike is our favorite way to travel around Vietnam. If you have an international driving permit and enough skill, it’s very easy to rent one in Hoi An or Da Nang and ride out to the My Son Sanctuary.
The route to My Son presents no great difficulties, and you can rent a motorbike at any of the many places in Hoi An.
Traveling by motorbike is the best way to enjoy the scenery and the fresh air, ideal for adventure lovers. It’s also very cheap: a day’s rental usually costs around 150,000 VND (~US$5.80), plus fuel. On arrival you’ll pay 5,000 VND for parking.
You can choose several routes from Hoi An, but here’s the one we liked best.
And here’s the route from Da Nang.
Getting to My Son by private transfer
If you’d rather not bother renting a motorbike, the most comfortable — and priciest — option is hiring a taxi or private transfer to take you to the sanctuary.
This is a good idea if you’re after a bit more privacy and comfort on your trip, plus the ability to set your own schedule and pace.
This way of getting there is a little more expensive, with private transfers to the My Son Sanctuary costing around 1,000,000 VND (~US$38) for a trip in a 4-seater vehicle.
If you choose to book directly, there are plenty of options available online with pickup at your hotel.
Shared bus to the My Son ruins
The cheapest way, if you’re traveling alone and don’t want to ride a motorbike or book a tour, is simply arranging a shared transfer to the My Son Sanctuary. The price is around 200,000 VND (~US$7.70).
You can book it once you’re in town, or online here.
