My Son holy land was once a religious and political center of the mighty Champa Kingdom which flourished all over central and south Viet Nam from 7th century to 15th century. The exquisite complex comprised 70 structures built by Cham kings to commemorate important events during their reigns.However, about 20 of these sites were nearly destroyed and many others were partly ruined by aerial bombs during the American war. Only 25 monuments remain intact today and parts of these are deteriorating due to weather conditions and vegetation overgrowth.
Despite this My Son sanctuary is still the finest example of Cham architecture in Viet Nam. It is still unknown how, and by what kind of substance, Cham people could stick these red baked bricks together to form such solid structures. There are high shrine towers with double pillars, solid walls, elaborate carvings and striking sculptures. All reflect the exclusive beauty of Cham culture. There are also many valuable artifacts (mainly sculptures) found in the archaeological site and displayed in the Cham museum in Da Nang city.
While not as extensive as Angkor Wat in Cambodia or Ayutthaya in Thailand, My Son boasts its own charm and glorious history. It is the first inhabited site of Indian Hindu civilization in Southeast Asia.