July 6, 2024

My Son Sunrise Tour From Hoi An: Tour Review & Recap

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My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the site of several Hindu temple ruins that dates back between the 4th and 13th centuries. If you’re familiar with Angkor Wat, you can think of My Son as a smaller version of it. Visiting My Son Sanctuary is a popular half-day trip from either Hoi An or Da Nang, as it’s about an hour drive from each place.

I wanted to see My Son when I was in Hoi An and preferred to go with a tour so that I could learn about the ruins. Since My Son isn’t very large, it only takes one to two hours to see. Tours run for half a day and take place either in the morning or in the afternoon.

I chose to go with an early morning tour since there’d be less tourists and it wouldn’t be very hot. Despite requiring an incredibly early wake-up, it ended up being the perfect choice. So if you’re looking to take a guided tour of My Son, here’s what you can expect from a sunrise tour with one of the best local tour guides.

Table Of Contents
  1. Overview
  2. Beating the crowds and heat with an early morning pickup
  3. The perfect balance of information and exploration
  4. Ending with a delicious breakfast
  5. Book the best My Son tour from Hoi An
  6. More resources for traveling Vietnam

Overview

  • What I paid: $33 USD
  • How to book: Viator or Tripadvisor
  • Rating: 🌄🌄🌄🌄🌄 5 out of 5 sunrises

Beating the crowds and heat with an early morning pickup

The biggest downside of doing a sunrise tour is how early the pickup is, which is any time between 5:30 and 5:45 AM. This meant that I woke up around 4:30 AM. On the bright side, we were dropped off at the tour company’s office and offered coffee while we waited for another van that was picking up the rest of the tour group. Once everyone had arrived, then we set off to My Son Sanctuary.

By far the best thing about having such an early start is that we were one of the first ones at My Son. We saw less than ten tourists while we were there, so we had the ruins all to ourselves. By the time we left, there were several tour groups arriving.

The other advantage of going early is beating the heat. I went in February, when the average high in Hoi An is only 80°F (27°C). While the temperature hadn’t been unbearably hot, it always felt hotter when there was direct sun and that was what I was trying to avoid. There’s not much shade in My Son Sanctuary, as the ruins are out in open fields. When we arrived, it was cool and cloudy. But toward the end of the tour, the sun had come out and it was starting to heat up. The hottest months in Hoi An are from May to August, so I especially recommend taking the sunrise tour if you’ll be there during that time.

Orange stone temple with a gate and stairs leading up to it in My Son Sanctuary

The perfect balance of information and exploration

Our tour guide was knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. He took us around the temples while sharing information about the site’s history, the Cham people who built My Son, and Hinduism. The tour was well-paced, with some time to do a bit of exploring on your own. You could freely wander around, take as many photos as you wanted, and simply enjoy the nature without being surrounded by other tour groups.

Ending with a delicious breakfast

After My Son, we drove back to the office for breakfast, which is included in the price of the tour. I have no idea what sort of noodles were served, but they were delicious. And breakfast was finished off with some fruit. I really appreciated that breakfast was included in the tour, given how early you have to wake up. However, the breakfast is somewhat light, so it might not be filling if you typically eat a big breakfast.

Book the best My Son tour from Hoi An

If you’re planning on taking a day trip to My Son from Hoi An, I highly recommend booking the sunrise tour that I did. If my review above still hasn’t sold you on it, the tour is one of the highest rated ones and it has hundreds of reviews. Learn more about the tour below and book your spot now.

More resources for traveling Vietnam

My Son Sanctuary: Best Sunrise Tour From Hoi An
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Hi, I’m Felicia. Ever since studying abroad in college, I’ve had a growing passion for travel. I love sharing those experiences with others, so you’ll find travel guides, packing lists, tips, and more here!