Unveiling My Son: The Resurgence of Vietnam’s Ancient Hindu Heritage

via South China Morning Post, 28 Sep 2023: The My Son Sanctuary, often considered Vietnam’s answer to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, has been newly restored to showcase its ancient Hindu temple complex. Located near Hoi An, the site was the political and religious capital of the Champa kingdom from the 4th to 13th centuries. The six-year restoration project, a collaboration between Vietnamese authorities and the Archaeological Survey of India, has revitalized the site’s red-brick towers and intricate carvings, attracting a surge in visitors.

t the foot of a steep peak, red-brick temple towers stand out from their jungle setting. These lofty structures, some embellished with bas-relief images depicting Hindu legends, are among more than 70 monuments that embody a fallen empire.

They have been newly spruced up as part of a multi-year restoration project.

About 1,700 years ago, the Champa kingdom chose this site, in what is now Central Vietnam, for its imposing headquarters. The My Son Sanctuary was the political and religious capital of the Champa from the 4th to 13th centuries.

This empire controlled a swathe of what is now Vietnam, having been established in the late 2nd century by the Dua clan, which united an array of Cham clans.

Source: Vietnam’s answer to Angkor Wat is a less grand but newly restored ancient Hindu temple complex near Hoi An that was seat of the Champa kingdom | South China Morning Post