29.10. Small Angkor Wat

Today we visited the ruins of My Son, a temple complex with a very English-sounding name. My Son was the center of the Cham civilization, which spread along the coast of Vietnam starting from the 2nd century. Today, connections to Indian Hinduism can be observed, such as the worship of the Hindu god Shiva.

The temple complex of My Son is estimated to have been built between the 3rd and 5th centuries, making it over one and a half thousand years old. Unfortunately, it was heavily damaged during the Vietnam War, with some buildings even completely destroyed. This includes the most spectacular part of the complex, a 24-meter tall tower. After the war, restoration work began, but as often is the case with historical buildings, one question remained: how did people back then manage to construct such a complex? Concrete was not available and is also not suitable for reconstruction, as it would quickly become covered in moss when in contact with the ancient stones. It is believed that a biological paste was used to give the buildings their form, though this paste cannot be reconstructed. It is simply a bizarre circumstance that people one and a half thousand years ago had something ahead of the highly praised and self-assured "Modern Humans"...

The ruins were nestled and scattered in a valley, so during the visit, you could also take a little walk through banana and bean plantations. However, it was advisable to stay on the paths, as there was a risk of landmines in this area that had been heavily targeted.

After visiting the site, we drove back to the city by scooter, as My Son was quite far away. It was nice to see something old and venerable again after Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and although My Son could not match the size and good condition of Angkor Wat, it had a special charm with its red stones and its location between the mountains.

In the evening, we walked through the beautifully illuminated Hoi An again and found a nice rooftop terrace with a view of the river and the colorful waterfront to play cards once again.

Tomorrow, we have a Vietnamese cooking class in the afternoon, which we are very excited about.