{"id":11099,"date":"2022-04-27T17:39:02","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T09:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=11099"},"modified":"2022-04-28T12:07:08","modified_gmt":"2022-04-28T04:07:08","slug":"my-son-sanctuary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/my-son-sanctuary\/","title":{"rendered":"M\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary: Quang Nam’s Magnificent Tower Complex From The Ancient Champa Kingdom"},"content":{"rendered":"

M\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary – Qu\u1ea3ng Nam tower complex from the Champa Kingdom<\/h2>\n
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Though a Southeast Asian country, Vietnam is usually depicted as strongly influenced by Chinese culture.<\/p>\n

However,\u00a0 the M\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary<\/strong> in Qu\u1ea3ng Nam tells a different story – about a powerful ancient Indianized kingdom named Champa in central Vietnam.<\/p>\n

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It comprises dozens of delicate brick towers<\/h3>\n
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\nM\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary was protected by forests, hills, and mountains for centuries.<\/em>
\nImage credit: DI S\u1ea2N V\u0102N H\u00d3A M\u1ef8 S\u01a0N<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The M\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary is a large complex of Cham towers. It is about 50 kilometers southwest of Danang and in a 2-kilometer-wide valley.<\/p>\n

The sanctuary used to be a sacred place where many religious rituals of the Champa Kingdom were conducted. This was also the place where Champa kings were buried from the 4th century.<\/p>\n

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\nSome structures in the M\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary
\nImage credit: Shaf Alam<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The research on this sanctuary started in 1898 and in 1904, the first documents about this site were published. The French archaeologists divided this site into 10 different clusters, namely A, A’, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and K.<\/p>\n

Going through each cluster, you will discover the life of the Champa people in multiple aspects and through many centuries.<\/p>\n

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It reflects Cham architecture through time<\/h3>\n
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\nMap of the Clusters A and A’ in the M\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary complex
\nImage credit: CHAMPA AND ME<\/a><\/p>\n

Constructed in 9 centuries and serving as the cultural center of the ancient Champa Kingdom, this is a good place for you to explore how this Indianized civilization has developed and collapsed. In fact, M\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary comprises more than 70 towers and affiliated constructions.<\/p>\n

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\nMap of the Clusters B, C, and D in the M\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary complex<\/em>
\nImage credit: CHAMPA AND ME<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In some clusters such as E1 or F1, you can see how the first religious buildings were built on the site during the 8th century. Moving on to the B clusters, you get to see towers with delicate decorative details from the 9th to 10th centuries.<\/p>\n

\"My
\nThese intricate patterns on the towers reflect how advanced the building techniques of the Champa people were.<\/em>
\nImage credit: John Marsh Class Piano II<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The most modern towers, usually dubbed as the paragons of Champa architecture, are those built from the 11th to the 14th centuries in clusters B1, E4, and so on.<\/p>\n

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It is a world heritage site<\/h3>\n
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\nYou may also enjoy Ch\u0103m arts performances right in the sanctuary.<\/em>
\nImage credit: DI S\u1ea2N V\u0102N H\u00d3A M\u1ef8 S\u01a0N<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

A visit to M\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary will give you a chance to admire a great complex of Indianized structures comparable to their counterparts in Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Thanks to its historical and aesthetic values, M\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1999.<\/p>\n

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\nTower A1, a magnificent Ch\u0103m Tower, was mostly destroyed during the Vietnam War.<\/em>
\nImage credit: My Architectural Moleskine<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

However, after the Vietnam War, many towers, such as A1, were partly or completely destroyed. However, it doesn’t ruin the solemnity and mystery of this sanctuary.<\/p>\n

There are still a lot of perplexing questions about these towers, for example, how the Cham people could build such detailed and sturdy towers, waiting to be solved.<\/p>\n

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M\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary<\/h3>\n
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Whether you are a history buff or just curious about a lesser-known face of Vietnam, you should come to M\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary.<\/p>\n

This is a complex of religious towers and other structures built across centuries of the ancient Kingdom of Champa, that’ll enthrall you with its level of development and the colorful spiritual life of its people.<\/p>\n

M\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary<\/strong>
\nAddress: <\/span><\/strong>Duy Ph\u00fa Commune, Duy Xuy\u00ean District, Qu\u1ea3ng Nam Province
\nOpening hours: <\/span><\/strong>6AM-5PM, Daily
\nTicket prices (including transportation within sanctuary, sanctuary and museum access,
\nCh\u0103m art performance, and photo-taking with staff guidance): <\/span><\/strong>VND100.000 (~USD4.35) for Vietnamese citizens
\nVND150.000 (~USD6.53) for foreigners
\nChildren below 15 years of age are only required to buy transportation tickets.
\nGuided tours per group: VND100.000 (~USD4.35)
\nTelephone: <\/span><\/strong>0235 3731 309
\nM\u1ef9 S\u01a1n Sanctuary’s Website<\/a><\/p>\n

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