How to get from Hoi An to My Son | Routes, Costs, and Tips
Located just 1 hour from Hoi An, the My Son sanctuary is a must-visit excursion for exploring picturesque landscapes and diving into the millennial history of the Champa people.
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999, My Son is home to Hindu temples older than Angkor Wat and bears the scars of the American war. A unique historical site not to be missed.
How long does it take to get to My Son from Hoi An?
The journey between Hoi An and the My Son sanctuary takes about 1 hour by private car or scooter.
If you choose to take the bus or cycle to My Son, the travel time will be much longer.
From Da Nang, the drive takes around 1 hour as well.
Getting to My Son from Hoi An
If you want to visit My Son (pronounced “me son”), you have several options available. The most economical is the bus, but you’ll be traveling in a group, often a very large group. Unless you enjoy traveling with 30 other people, I really wouldn’t recommend it.
I suggest either renting a scooter, which is not too expensive and gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace, or opting for a private car, which is a bit more expensive but more comfortable.
Hoi An to My Son by Private Car
By private car, expect to pay 800,000 VND (€32) for a 4-seater car and 900,000 VND (€36) for a 7-seater car.
This is the fastest, most comfortable, and flexible option. You can leave whenever you want and stop along the way to explore the surroundings of My Son.
You can also see one of the last bamboo bridges of Hoi An on the route.
It’s one of the cheapest ways to get to My Son because the price is per car, not per person, which is more cost-effective than the bus.
MY RECOMMENDATION
If you’re looking for a reliable agency for this trip by private car, I recommend Hoi An Transport Service (Check their website). They respond quickly and in English and in French. The advantage is that you can book in the morning for the afternoon, even just 2 hours in advance. They are very flexible.
Hoi An to My Son by Bus
By bus, the trip costs 499,000 VND per person (including vehicle and guide), which is about €20. You can find more details on the Sinh Tourist website.
You depart at 8 AM and return at 2:30 PM. The bus takes you from Hoi An to My Son, and then brings you back by boat.
I don’t recommend taking the bus to My Son unless you’re really on a tight budget. It’s a large group experience, not to be confused with a private tour, and the schedule is fixed. It’s definitely not the best experience.
Hoi An to My Son by Bicycle
For the more adventurous, you can cycle from Hoi An to My Son by following the scooter route or by going through a French-speaking agency like Heaven & Earth, run by Pascal, a French expat.
You leave at 7:30 AM from their office in Hoi An (61 Ngo Quyen) and return by boat at 3:30 PM.
The price is 1,900,000 VND per adult (€79) and 900,000 VND per child (€39). It’s an excellent way to discover the region, and you can also request a French-speaking guide.
One of the highlights is that Pascal knows the area like the back of his hand and offers tours to places that other agencies don’t visit.
Hoi An to My Son by Scooter
This is a question that comes up more and more often. Many tourists want to go to My Son by scooter, but it’s important to know that the route is not always well marked, and it’s known for being difficult to find. You’ll need a good GPS or follow the directions I’ll give you in this article. Avoid following Google Maps; their map is outdated, and there’s a lot of incorrect information. On average, it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on your speed.
- 1. I’ll give you the easiest route to follow for a tourist, which is also the simplest by scooter. My starting point will be the Cam Kim Bridge.
- 2. After crossing the two bridges, you should go straight ahead, passing by the pagoda, and you’ll arrive in front of a house. At the house, you’ll need to turn right and then immediately turn right again.
- 3. On both sides, you’ll see rice fields. At the end of the road, you’ll see a sign for Cau Duy Phuoc—this is the bridge you’ll need to take to connect to the road that leads to My Son.
- 4. The problem is that there are no signs indicating how to get to the road to take the bridge, and you’ll need to take a small alleyway about 600 meters ahead.
- 5. There are no signs to indicate this alley. Take the alley, and you’ll see a cemetery on the left side of the road, then continue straight until you reach the bridge.
- 6. After crossing this bridge, you’ll need to drive for another 500 meters, and you’ll arrive at a larger road.
- 7. From here, the road is much simpler, and you’ve passed the hardest part. You’ll need to drive a few kilometers until the end of the road and then turn left.
Turn left when you arrive here
- 8. You’ll arrive at a large road that connects Da Nang to Saigon. Be careful crossing this road, as traffic moves quickly, and there’s a lot of it.
At the traffic light, you’ll need to turn right. You can’t miss it—there’s a large gate with the My Son logo and a big Vinaphone logo (Vietnamese telecom operator).
From here, just follow the road for a few kilometers. The road is very straightforward from this point onward.
My Opinion
To get to My Son, I recommend either a private car or a scooter. It’s quick, and you can see the countryside and local life around Hoi An.
For the more athletic, you can choose to go to My Son by bike. It’s longer, but an excellent experience.
I don’t recommend taking the bus. You arrive in a group of 30-40 people, so it’s not the best way to visit My Son with a crowd of tourists.