This full-day tour outside of Hoi An takes in the little-visited Cham ruins of My Son, the ancient spiritual centre of the Champa Kingdom. This is a must-visit for those interested in ancient history and architecture.

Meet your guide and driver early in the morning for the 25-mile (41-km) journey to the My Son Sanctuary, on a road that follows the Thu Bon River. You will then take a walking tour among the ancient ruins of this once-great civilization.

My Son is known to have been the intellectual and spiritual centre of the Champa Kingdom between the 4th and 12th century. Today, only a few dozen buildings remain, but it isn’t hard to imagine the grandeur of this almost forgotten era. Take your time to observe the intricate details of these crumbling ruins as your guide tells you stories from the Cham civilisation.

To return to Hoi An, you will take a wooden boat back along the Thu Bon River, passing through the peaceful countryside of rural Quang Nam province. You will stop by the local carpentry village of Kim Bong on the way and have lunch in the middle of some wood workshops.

Comfortable shoes, bottled water, sunscreen, and a camera.

Transportation, English-speaking guide, bottled water, entrance fees, boat ticket, and a local Vietnamese lunch.