My Son was a religios centre of the ancient Cham culture (ethnic / tribe in central and soutern Vietnam, strong relationship to the Khmer). Like the Khmer of Cambodia the Cham (Champa) followed the hinduism. From the 4th to the 16th century the Cham were the dominating ethnic in South Vietnam. The temples at My Son were build mainly from the 7th to the 13th century. Under the pressure of the Viet people, that pushed into that region the Cham left My Son in the 14th century. My Son was rediscovered in the late 19th century by the French. The archaelogical excarvations started in 1901 by Henri Parmentier. During the Vietnam War the archaeological sites of My Son were destroyed by the US Airforce. The reconstruction started in the 1980th, but it will not be possible to put My Son back into the conditions before the US air raids. My Son is located 40 km southwest of Hoi An.
