schnauzer

Just wondering if anyone had walked through My Son and could comment whether an older lady (over 80) who has a little trouble walking (sight failing as well) could manage. We have looked at a private tour guide who sugested it would be too difficult for her, but I wanted a second opinion.

Thanks,
Schnauzer

shelleyk

My Son is relatively flat, but the path through it is on dirt. If you've walked through ruins in a jungle like Angkor Wat, My Son's paths are similar to that, flat but uneven. Also, there is no shade and no place to sit and rest within the ruins. If she is frail with impaired eyesight I would not risk taking her through My Son.

WillJame

I went with a private guide to My Son from Hue in March of 2011, and can't recall that it would present any great challenges.
I'm imagining what my mother would have been able to do in her 80s, though terms such as "a little trouble walking" and "sight failing" are relative of course. Does she use a cane or walker? The area is not very extensive in contrast to the temples of Angkor Wat and the ground is relatively flat. There are usually steps to be climbed at Angkor.
If you go at a time of day when there are no tours, you can escape crowds almost entirely.
Why not send an email to Tonkin Travel and get a second opinion from another travel agency?

aprillilacs

You do need to walk quite a bit at My Son to get to the ruins from the parking area. As shelley said, the path isn't smooth. For someone with trouble walking and failing eyesight, I think it would be difficult. Depends on how intrepid she is.

thursdaysd

I thought My Son was pretty easy. There are no steps, and while the paths are in the open, I remember that were trees. (And you can always use a folding umbrella as a sunshade - I do it a lot.) I would certainly advise arranging for your own driver and going early, to avoid the tour groups. Can't see that a guide would add much - visit the museum in Danang for background.

To give you an idea I've pulled my (unedited) My Son photos into a separate gallery. They're a mix of 2002 and 2004 but I doubt that much has changed, except possibly for the better:

http://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/Asia2002/My-Son

someotherguy

Depending where else you are going, you may be able to visit some Cham sites that are easier to access than My Song, and less devastated by the US bombing.

Po Ngar is right in Nha Trang, and is paved.

Po Klong Garai is near Phan Rang, and is easy to visit if you are traveling by road between Nha Trang and Dalat (via the old road). There's a gentle, paved, stepped path from the parking area to the site on the top of its hill. I walk with a cane and had no great difficulty. There are some other Cham sites near here, but I didn't investigate them.

Wikipedia has good descriptions of these. I found both of them more attractive than My Song.

schnauzer

Thanks for the replies and the photos. I am still 'thinking' about it. Mum doesn't need a cane or walker but due to macular degeneration is unsure of her footing and needs someone to hold her arm and assist with steps etc.

I am still waiting to hear back from more guides.
Thanks,
Schnauzer