Marble Mountains
Marble Mountain
The Marble Mountains are 5 marble and limestone hills south of Da Nang. Rising up just 106m at their highest point, one could argue mountains is an overstatement. They are named after five elements: Kim (metal), Thuy (water), Moc (wood), Hoa (fire) and Tho (earth). Even though there are five of them, it’s really just one that is open for visiting: Thuy, also the largest.
The mountain is a bit like a maze, dotted with numerous pagodas, gateways, shrines, and statues, as well as some really cool caves, and a great panoramic view from its peak. It’s a fun place to visit!
As the name suggests, these peaks are rich in great quality marble, which has been mined for many years. Today, extraction is no longer allowed, so don't believe what the local merchants may tell you about their souvenirs! Their stalls will be the first thing you will notice when you reach the base, followed by the very modern elevator. Based on this, you may think this is just another tourist trap, but the Marble Mountains are actually a really interesting and historical place.
Aside from a place of worship, the mountains were supposedly used by the monks to hide treasures in the old days. It was also a hospital for the Vietnamese during the Vietnam/American war (Da Nang was a major US base during the war).
The admission price for the Marble Mountains is 40,000 VND (around £1.2), with an additional 40,000 VND if you wish to take the elevator. I would recommend walking at least on the way down, as there are some interesting things to see along the way.
All in all, a trip to Marble Mountains is a half-day activity.
Getting there
The Marble Mountains are a popular day-trip destination from either Da Nang or Hoi An - it’s a 20min drive from Da Nang airport, or 30min drive from Hoi An to get there - a taxi from Hoi An should be no more than £15 or so. Alternatively, the mountains are located close to the beach as well as the main road, so any bus travelling between the two cities should pass by. You could also join an organised day tour - it’s really not necessary, but if you are short on time it could make sense to pair Marble Mountains with another attraction (this is what we did and went for Marble Mountains & My Son).
When to visit
The place can get crowded towards mid-day (when the tours arrive), and this can become a bit of a nuisance in narrow sections or inside the caves - best to get there early if you can.
Da Nang
Da Nang is the 3rd largest city in Vietnam. The city itself is quite industrial and lacks the charm of nearby Hoi An, but there are a few places there which may be worth including in your itinerary.
While in Da Nang, you may want to also make a stop at the Linh Ung Pagoda, known for its remarkable statue of Lady Buddha, and the famous yellow dragon bridge (which on some evenings spits fire and water!).
A relatively new attraction is Sunworld, at Bà Nà Hills. I’m really not into those kind of attractions - to me, this one looks tacky and feels out of place. However, I suspect the fake French Village is targeted towards locals rather than visitors from Europe etc. But there are two things here I find quite interesting - the cable car (which holds several world records), and the Golden Bridge that opened in 2018.
Just north of Da Nang, you will find the Hai Van Pass. This is a very scenic mountainous road that you will likely cross if you travel between Hue and Da Nang/ Hoi An, by car or motorbike - this second option is quite popular with visitors. There are actually two roads connecting Da Nang to the north: it's either a 21km scenic drive along the windy roads of Hai Van Pass (more interesting) or a 7km drive along the Hai Van Tunnel (faster) - the longest tunnel in SE Asia!
More in Vietnam
A day in Vietnam’s imperial city