The Marble Mountains, Da Nang: Insider’s Travel Guide

The Marble Mountains in Da Nang are a beautiful experience for all local and international visitors. Moreover, they are a set of equally spiritual, historic and naturally beautiful limestone karsts that hold special significance to the Vietnamese people.

You can also wander around different Buddhist temple complexes, enjoy viewpoints and head inside the many caves. There are some really stunning spots to explore and it’s one of the best activities in Da Nang.

Finally, the Marble Mountains is a very peaceful location and a wonderful spot to do some exploring for any and all travellers. Let’s dive into everything you need to know before visiting this historic hot spot.

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Where Are the Marble Mountains?

The Marble Mountains are south of Da Nang city. And, you’d be looking at a 20-minute drive from the city centre. Therefore, it’s pretty easy to reach and an excellent day trip when spending time in Da Nang.

On the other hand, some people make their way up to the mountains from Hoi An. And, this is also a pretty easy trip to make. If you’re driving from the old town of Hoi An, you’d be looking at a 25-minute journey.

So, feel free to choose whichever path is best for you depending on which direction you are travelling in the country. It might be nice to make this a stop off point when travelling between the cities.

Address: The Marble Mountains, 81 Huyền Trân Công Chúa, Hoà Hải, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam

Are the Marble Mountains Worth Visiting?

Yes, the Marble Mountains in Da Nang are definitely worth a visit. Moreover, the entrance fee is reasonable and you get to explore a huge area which makes it worth your time.

There are a couple of walking trails to wander along, you can enjoy a beautiful viewpoint, visit multiple temples and head into the caves of the mountains.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here and felt as though it offered a slice of serenity between the towns of Da Nang and Hoi An.

Heading up the mountain and the first two pagodas

Entrance Fee and Opening Hours

The entrance fee to the Marble Mountains is 40,000 VND. And, if you want to make use of the elevator to get up and down the steepest part of the area, that will be an additional 15,000 VND.

Moreover, this is an extremely affordable activity and is well worth the small fee to get in.

Opening Hours:
Daily: 7 AM – 5 PM

Tip: I would recommend arriving an hour before closing time to ensure you have enough time to do some exploring. Although, it’s best to allow at least 2 hours to get the most out of your visit.

The Marble Mountains Experience

Upon arrival at the marble mountains, you must pay a small fee at the entrance after parking your scooter in one of the surrounding lots. Then, you will need to head up the large limestone steps to make your way up to the mountain.

Alternatively, you could make use of the lift, but that’ll be an additional fee of 15,000 VND. Nonetheless, if you have a reasonable fitness level, you should have no issue getting to the top of the mountain.

Once you’ve reached the top, you will be greeted by Xa Loi Tower and Linh Ung Pagoda. Spend some time wandering around these gorgeous temples and then choose your path to do some exploring.

If you’re on a limited-time schedule, I would recommend seeing Hoa Ngheim Cave and Huyen Khong Cave. Both of these locations are truly spectacular and an incredible sight to see.

Additionally, do your best to visit when the sun is shining. You will get to enjoy a truly majestic view of the light pouring in from the roof of the caves; It looks incredibly beautiful!

Sunlight filtering into the cave looks truly magical

History

The Marble Mountains is a collection of five limestone karsts. Moreover, these karsts randomly shoot out of the ground in between the two incredible cities of Da Nang and Hoi An.

Each of the five peaks has its own name in reference to the five elements. These names include metal, water, wood, fire and earth. However, they are named in Vietnamese.

This location is equally spiritual, natural and historic with loads of unique information that makes it a truly special and iconic place.

Legend has it that many years ago, a dragon flew to Non Nuoc Beac and laid an egg. Then, the egg hatched and a girl stepped out. After that, the shell of the egg split into five different pieces and this is how the five mountain karsts were created.

Finally, the caves have been used as an army station and hospital. Many marines have been trained in this location, as well as using it as a shelter to protect themselves from war.

Guided Tours

There are a few different guided tours on offer, and these may be worth it if you enjoy receiving lots of information and learning the history of an area along the way.

Additionally, these tours will take you to multiple locations, so you can do some further exploring of Da Nang.

Tips for Visiting the Marble Mountains

There are a few things that I’d recommend keeping in mind when it comes time for you to visit the Marble Mountains in Da Nang, so be sure to take note of my insider travel advice.

Try visiting sometime in the morning. This location can get very busy mid-afternoon with loads of local tourists visiting the area.
Pack a water bottle. You’re about to do a lot of walking and there are many steep inclines. Water breaks are necessary!
Bring a camera. If you have a camera, it’s definitely worth bringing it along as you can get some pretty cool shots.
Pack plenty of cash as you will need to pay for tickets and entrance fees with cash. Furthermore, I’d recommend bringing some smaller notes in case you want to donate some money or need some smaller notes.
Check out some of the souvenirs at the base of the mountain. There are loads of great marble-inspired gifts and items that you can purchase, it’s definitely worth checking out!

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, the Marble Mountains in Da Nang is an absolute tourist hotspot with not just foreign tourists, but the locals too!

There are so many beautiful spots that you can wander around making it an epic adventure for families, couples and solos. Not to mention, it’s pretty easy to navigate and you can do lots of exploring along the trails.

I think this is an excellent day activity and is the perfect spot to stop in between your travels from Hoi An or Da Nang. Be sure to add this spot to your list as it’s worth the experience!

Finally, if you would like to learn more about Vietnam, I recommend checking out this section of my blog. I have loads of awesome places to visit, things to do and travel guides. Happy reading!