My Son Ruins Visit Experience

#JanuaryGoodPlaces2025 This visit to the My Son Sanctuary (Mỹ Sơn) near Da Nang, Vietnam, gave me a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the Champa Kingdom. The My Son ruins were an important religious center of the Champa Kingdom from the 4th to the 13th century and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The red brick buildings, sculpture art, and ruins swallowed by the jungle here made me feel the glory and vicissitudes of this ancient civilization. The shock of history and architecture When you walk into My Son, you will be attracted by these red brick pagodas and temples at first sight. These towers are dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, and some of the carvings are still well preserved. What surprised me most was the construction technology used by the Cham people - it is said that they did not use cement, but instead used a unique bonding technology to make the red bricks perfectly combined, so that they can still stand today. Even after experiencing war and erosion of time, these buildings still retain the artistic characteristics of the time, especially the detailed stone carvings and statues, which demonstrate the highly developed carving skills of the time. Traces and regrets of war In addition to the historical and cultural shock, My Son also made me realize the destructive power of war. During the Vietnam War, this site was bombed by the US military, many buildings were destroyed, and there were holes left on the ground from the war. The local tour guide mentioned that originally there were many more relics here than there are now, but most of them were destroyed due to the war, which makes people sigh at the fragility and helplessness of historical culture. The fusion of nature and heritage The My Son ruins are surrounded by jungle, a fusion of nature and history reminiscent of Angkor Wat in Cambodia or Ayutthaya in Thailand. In the early morning, fog permeates the red brick ruins, accompanied by the chirping of insects and birds, and the overall atmosphere is full of mystery. This sight made me appreciate even more why the ancients chose this place as a religious holy place - it really has a peaceful and sacred atmosphere. Summary and reflections This trip to My Son gave me a deeper understanding of Cham culture and made me appreciate the value of world cultural heritage even more. Despite wars and natural erosion, these ruins still show their former glory. Standing in front of these ancient pagodas, I couldn’t help but wonder whether the Cham people thousands of years ago also prayed and held ceremonies here? Although history has passed, we can still feel its vitality and stories through these ruins. This journey is not only a cultural exploration, but also a spiritual sedimentation.